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I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

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Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#91

As a manager or senior a huge part of your job is communication and distributing information, and email is one of, if not, THE core method of doing this. The author has decided to provide poor communication because she can’t handle her inbox. One word replies can be extremely misleading and will cost her more time overall than reading and replying to her emails properly. I would be fuming if I was her boss or worked…

Brevity is the soul of wit.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#92

> I wanted to know, did you always email this way, or did you only start once you became the boss? His answer (over email): “Yes.” I’m going to assume the yes was to the first part of the question and he skimmed over part two. This isn't something to emulate. People who only read the first few words of an email before replying make communication harder for everyone else. Sometimes things can't be accurately summed up…

> This isn't something to emulate. People who only read the first few words of an email before replying make communication harder for everyone else. Sometimes things can't be accurately summed up in half a sentence.

The point is not to write all the extra words in the first place.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#93
post #50
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For #1, what I have found works best is to nix the huge amount of text you'd otherwise write in the email and put it in a link. A document maybe, or better yet a beautiful portal that works on desktop and mobile. That way the email is short AND the link can be reshared!

That's a terrific idea, if that kind of CMS-ish system is available to you or within your organization. Unfortunately I've never been exposed to or have much experience with something like that : (

> CMS-ish system

That's Google Docs or Office 365.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#94
post #39

I emailed Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and star of TV’s Shark Tank, because he is known for responding right away to anyone who emails him, and because now I can give this story the headline Really? What's his email? I think I direct-emailed him before at blogmaverick and didn't get a response.

[deleted]

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#95
Here's the next rule for you:

DO NOT TOP POST

Seriously, posting inline is easier to write and read and makes your email more clear. You don't have to wrangle your words to make it clear what part of their email you're replying to. If you don't need to refer to anything they said, delete the whole email and just put in a couple of words alone.

Stop top posting!

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#96
post #79
post #7

Rules for good emails 1. Keep the message as short as necessary but no shorter. 2. Put the most important information at the top of the message. 3. If it email is for an ask, call out from who you need the response and put it at the top of the message. 4. If you need to send a long email with many details, put the most important information at the top (ie. what the reader needs to know) and then fill in the body with…

>Hey Jane, I need your input on how to prioritize my current work. Can you provide guidance on where I should focus? >Bug XYZ was assigned to me and it's taking longer to complete because we have a dependency on Vendor ABC completing a change to their web service. This is impacting the commitment to my team on Feature 123 because we are near the end of our sprint. >Lemme know. Pss, amateur. That's way too many words.…

Use this as an opportunity to 'manage up'. Frame your email to recommend the decision you'd make. In the example below, you know what I would do with no executive decision, and the response I do get can be a one word yes/no reply.

Jane, should I keep fixing bug XYZ? Im blocked by Vendor ABC.

I can work on Feature 123.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#97
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a terrific idea, if that kind of CMS-ish system is available to you or within your organization. Unfortunately I've never been exposed to or have much experience with something like that : (

> CMS-ish system That's Google Docs or Office 365.

Office 365 is the closest I've experienced. I actually kinda like it. My biggest use-case is wider spread documentation that is inappropriate to distribute as an attachment.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#98
post #7

Rules for good emails 1. Keep the message as short as necessary but no shorter. 2. Put the most important information at the top of the message. 3. If it email is for an ask, call out from who you need the response and put it at the top of the message. 4. If you need to send a long email with many details, put the most important information at the top (ie. what the reader needs to know) and then fill in the body with…

Subject: Reprioritization

XYZ is blocked by Vendor ABC. Feature 123 is affected.

Re: I tried emailing like a CEO and it made my life better

#99

This doesn't work. I've gotten many bad reviews, because people thought I was being "curt" or "mean" because I was replying to their question with short replies. None, of my emails were intended to be mean, I just didn't see the point in fluffing up my emails, and only responded with the required information, but I guess people require the fluff or they get their feelings hurt.

Problem is humans are multiplexing both data and job security signals across the single channel of email. For the boss, the latter doesn't matter (much) so they can focus on data. For peers and underlings, it is unwise to ignore clues that let you know when your job might be at risk because you pissed off your boss or peers, so getting a clear signal is important.
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