It is imperative that managers, especially in today’s ever-changing world, think twice and even three times before hitting send. Email isn’t good for everything. Business correspondence, yes. Sending files, yes. yes. But sometimes email can do more harm than good. We’ve all probably experienced passive-aggressive emails from management that make us question whether we’re such a good employee (or whether management is such a good employee). Here are five types of emails that bosses, managers, supervisors, and executives should never send to their employees.
“You’re Fired” Emails Never write letters
In 2023, mass layoffs via email were common, especially at Google, Twitter, Meta (designated a terrorist organization and banned in Russia), and Shopify. To name a few. But whether it’s convenient or not, it’s never a good idea to fire or lay off someone via email. Why? It’s not only cowardice, but also inhumanity, which is demoralizing and traumatic. It damages the company’s reputation and makes employees think. In addition, emails can be posted anywhere, including social networks, or sent to the editorial office of some publication or news agency. Why not? The person was literally kicked out, insulted, and he will not be coy.
Buying phone number lists involves thinking buy phone number list about important rules like GDPR (in Europe) and TCPA (in the U.S.), which control how personal information is gathered and used. Sometimes, you can legally buy these lists from companies that sell data or marketing businesses, but it’s very important to follow data protection rules and get permission from people before using their numbers for marketing. Using these lists without permission can result in big fines.
Request before the deadline Never write letters
Sometimes management worries about whether employees will manage to complete a task within the specified deadline. Nervously, they start sending out letters to “check in.” But is there any reason to doubt that the work is being done? Never give in to the temptation to remind about yourself and the deadlines.
Why? For an employee, such a preemptive “shot to the head” means that he is not trusted. Then the person begins to feel like a child when mom or dad checks whether he has done his homework. Regardless of what you write in the letter, it will be perceived as disrespectful and unprofessional. If the deadline has not changed and there are no new inputs to communicate on the project, do not bother employees – do not ruin your reputation and offend those on whom your career depends in some way.
Urgent! …when it’s not urgent
Emails can be marked as urgent by checking the box before sending. It is especially important for management not to send emails that are marked with a red flag or that contain the words “Urgent,” “Code Red,” or “Open Immediately” in the revenue operations: the key to business growth subject line. Unless it is a “fire.” Emails from management are already a priority for employees. You risk being seen as a shallow person who thinks that every email is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention.
Why is it not smart? It’s like the story about the shepherd who cried “Wolf!” when there were none. When the wolves actually came, no one came running to the cries. Besides, not all problems can be solved immediately and urgently. And you shouldn’t do it: there are only 24 hours in a day, and people will get tired if you manage their time unwisely, hanging an unrealistic number of urgent tasks (and they will be perceived as urgent – look at the flag next to the topic glowing red).
Passive aggression is in the minds of readers
Everyone has been tempted to write a venomous, angry, and caustic email. Of course, you shouldn’t send one. But even a non-caustic email can be afb directory perceived as negative. It all depends on the tone (in the recipient’s mind) with which it is read.
The email itself may not have been mean, but could it be perceived as such? There are no vocal tones or body language in an email, so we need to be sure we are doing everything we can to set the right tone.
Why? All the email writer uses are written words, and words alone are sometimes not enough, especially when it comes to expressing mild but uneasy feelings within a work relationship. If you are upset, take a moment to cool down and think about how to express your thoughts before you write to the person who caused your feelings.
Announcement of big changes
We’ve all been in meetings that could have been replaced by an email. But what about an email that would have been better served by a meeting? Most workers receive 50 to 100 emails a day, and that’s more than enough. If you’re sending an email about a change in the company or something that directly affects employees, close your email and schedule a meeting where people want to discuss the change. Don’t write an email that will lead to a meeting anyway.
Why? Employees don’t like being confronted with a fait accompli. How do you listen to the team? Discuss? Argue? Try to reason with them? Without a meeting, people will start exchanging ideas about your letter with each other, and you will never know what they think. And for this reason, you will not solve the problem that caused the company to change something. But this way you could have gotten great ideas – even better than your own.