Dr. Susan Fletcher Announces 7 Smart Moves for Sending Email

June 7, 2011 - PRLog -- 1.  You can't hear your tone of voice in an email." I've received emails where I thought the person was mad at me to later find out that wasn't the case at all," says Dr. Fletcher. Words are only 7% of communication with your voice inflection and body language making up the remaining 93%.  Keep in mind that emails can be misinterpreted because words are only a small part of communication.  

2.  You can't take back what you put in writing. Unless you are tech savvy and know how to retract an email, which normally doesn't work, once you send one it's a done deal.  Better yet, avoid the "Reply All" option.  There are tons of "Reply All" horror stories.

3.  Use airport caution. Anything you could get into trouble saying at the airport like "I feel like blowing this place up" - you shouldn't say via online forums.  Any teasing that could be interpreted as potential terrorism should be off limits.  

4.  TMI "Too Much Information." Emails like, "I've been throwing up all night" or "I'm worried about so-in-so's marriage" fall into this category.  Also, be weary of emailing about other people's health.  Information about another person's medical issues, medication and treatments should be confidential.  You can share medical information about yourself but it's inappropriate to share it about others.

5.  Condolences should be communicated by phone, handwritten note or in person.

6.  Resist the urge to be cyberdaring.  Most people are cyberdaring.   "Haven't we all emailed a message that we would be too timid to say in person? With social media and emails we become reckless with our comments. I've even witnessed couples having arguments by email and I've worked with people who have been fired for information they sent by email,' says Dr. Fletcher.

7.  "I could get into trouble by telling you this," “Delete this email immediately” or “I shouldn’t be telling you this” are 3 things you should never say in an email.

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Susan Fletcher, Ph.D. is a practicing psychologist & speaker on Emotional Intelligence, productivity, performance & leadership development. She is the author of Working in the Smart Zone (2008) & Parenting in the Smart Zone (2005).