Work E-Mail Etiquette

[Tyga11]

I've unfortunately been in the corporate world for the past 10 years or so (sales)

We had a Zoom today with an 'e-mail coach' who was describing e-mail etiquette.

Here were the main takeaways:

- Never say a greeting in an e-mail. Never say Hello or Hi. Just say the person's name like 'Joe-'

- Never end your e-mail with Thank you or Thanks because it makes you look weak

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I always say Hello to be nice and end with thanks because I want to show gratitude but now I don't know

[unluky]

Total horseshit. I've been in sales for 40 years. If a customer doesn't call me an asshole or douchebag at least once a week I don't feel like I'm doing my job correctly.

Obviously you can't do that on your initial email, but that's the level I want to get to with all my customers. When they need something I don't want them to think of my company first, I want them to think of me first.

The idea is to get them to the point where they feel like they're cheating on you if they buy from anyone else. And at the same time you provide them with the kind of service that makes them never want to go anywhere else.

I've never been a huge believer in sales rules for everybody. You either have the knack for sales or you don't. And everyone has a little different style that works for them.

Of course I don't really like following rules, so that may just be me.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I've unfortunately been in the corporate world for the past 10 years or so (sales)

We had a Zoom today with an 'e-mail coach' who was describing e-mail etiquette.

Here were the main takeaways:

- Never say a greeting in an e-mail. Never say Hello or Hi. Just say the person's name like 'Joe-'

- Never end your e-mail with Thank you or Thanks because it makes you look weak

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I always say Hello to be nice and end with thanks because I want to show gratitude but now I don't know

Fucking corporate BS nonsense! I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with this BS. As a business owner, I just can’t imagine working for Corporate America. One of my employees just gave notice. She is relocating and got a job with a big Corp. She has no filter between her brain and mouth. I warned her that she can’t say things there she says here.

[Vitacura]

Hello Tyga11,

Thank you for bringing this topic to our attention. After reading through your post and discussing it with my peers, we find that 'e-mail coach' to be lacking in certain areas of decorum.

Thank you,
vitacura

Could not resist..

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Fucking corporate BS nonsense! I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with this BS. As a business owner, I just can’t imagine working for Corporate America. One of my employees just gave notice. She is relocating and got a job with a big Corp. She has no filter between her brain and mouth. I warned her that she can’t say things there she says here.

We had a zoom last week on what backgrounds to use in a zoom meeting and what 'props' to include behind you - like in a bookshelf behind you.

I've been looking to get out for years but I have never found my true passion. I feel like I spend a quarter of my day in meetings that are useless and / or trainings and / or 'team meetings' where people share ideas just to share. It's pretty depressing

[Reborn_]

“Thanks” is my go to closing comment. I step up to “thank you” for a bit more formality or “best regards” for the most formal occasions (never internally for this one).

[e90335e36m3]

I write Hello even in responses most of the time…and thank you followed by "Respectfully" as part of my standard signature. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Those same etiquette people would probably tell you not to overdress. I subscribe to, dress for the job you want not the one you have. Both of these things have never gotten anything but compliments from coworkers.

[chassis]

Rubbish.

I feel sorry for your company for the money they wasted on the email coach and for the time, money and lost sales wasted from the participants' time spent in the Zoom call.

[ASAP]

Having worked in corporate for a very long time... the amount of BS that I see on a daily basis like this just boggles my mind... now we are moving towards the he/him and she /he signatures... i almost took a dump out of my mouth when i saw this.

[wtwo3]

The fact that they hired an "email coach" in and of itself is hilarious.

My view? shit like this is for the sheep. I always do what works best for me and renders the best results. How do I know what renders the best results? 10+ years of experience trying different things. I don't need a canned email format.

[leopard print]

The person who sourced the email coach should be embarrassed and ashamed for wasting company money. That’s some terrible advice.

[dreamingat30fps]

I literally do ALL of those things in every email. Luckily I only worked a corporate job for a very short time starting out and have since worked for small businesses and now my own business.

I have a signature that ends all my emails with "Best," however I'll throw a Thanks above that as well if the mood strikes, fuck it!

I also start almost every email with Hi or Hello. If I'm going back and forth rapid fire I'll drop the greeting. If someone is pissing me off I might go for the straight up Joe...

[WallySlash]

At a basic level sales is a conveyance of confidence. Confidence in YOU as the sales person.

After listening to dozens of “coaches” over the past 30 years I have come away with one thing - your customers are buying from you. So sell them you…whatever the method of communication sell them you. The greeting or closing of an email means nothing.

The email coach did a good job selling himself. I would say the coaching was trash but he sold himself and conveyed that confidence.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I've unfortunately been in the corporate world for the past 10 years or so (sales)

We had a Zoom today with an 'e-mail coach' who was describing e-mail etiquette.

Here were the main takeaways:

- Never say a greeting in an e-mail. Never say Hello or Hi. Just say the person's name like 'Joe-'

- Never end your e-mail with Thank you or Thanks because it makes you look weak

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I always say Hello to be nice and end with thanks because I want to show gratitude but now I don't know

Dear Tyga11,

As others have said, what a load of crap. You should keep doing what works for you. To me, what matters the most is the message itself. Is it clear? Have you copied the correct people and as importantly not copied people that don't need to see it?

This stuff is part of being in corporate life. Unless your boss is requiring you to comply, forget about it and keep being you.

If you are still pissed about this time-wasting experience, just remember that you drive an M4 Comp and this Zoom Call Moron probably drives a Sentra! (no disrespect to Sentras).

Warmest Regards,

sygazelle

[aktif8]

VP of sales here.

Imo:

The first point is bunk.

The second, situationally, can have some merit. If you are advocating for something that should benefit the other individual, don't thank them. This is foundational training for my BDRs.

[spazzyfry123]

What industry are you in?

[aguywalksintoabar]

DON'T TYPE LIKE THIS AS IT IS SHOUTING
Don't use text speak: C U L8R.
Don't use emoji.
Don't wish them Easter Blessings. You don't know their religious beliefs. Situational. You might work in the same church.
Mind your pronouns. If someone you're referring to is a they, then don't say he…
Stop using kind regards / best wishes

Now go tear up the rule book and send your boss an email with all of the above.

[Kilabyte]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Fucking corporate BS nonsense! I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with this BS. As a business owner, I just can’t imagine working for Corporate America. One of my employees just gave notice. She is relocating and got a job with a big Corp. She has no filter between her brain and mouth. I warned her that she can’t say things there she says here.

Oooh, I need to work for you then, you will LOVE me.

[c1pher]

I find it odd that someone would tell you not to greet or thank someone….two common courtesies we use. The one thing I don’t typically say is “sorry”. I’m human, I make mistakes or don’t do things the way my boss might have liked. I prefer to say, I’ll get it fixed or find out why it happened and correct it etc. But I always say please and thank you. I’m appreciative of the people I work with who perform and get results.

It’s as if the email coach is trying to make you less human.

[KRS_SN]

I find that direct questions with clear information get direct answers without to and fro emailing for eg emailing an accountant

Dear Mark,
Could you tell me about tax savings and cars
Best regards

As opposed to

Mark
If I buy a new 60k 5 series how much can I claim back in tax
krs

[jsf721]

Bingo - I’m in sales too. You eat what you sell.

This:

“The idea is to get them to the point where they feel like they're cheating on you if they buy from anyone else. And at the same time you provide them with the kind of service that makes them never want to go anywhere else.”

Originally Posted by unluky

Total horseshit. I've been in sales for 40 years. If a customer doesn't call me an asshole or douchebag at least once a week I don't feel like I'm doing my job correctly.

Obviously you can't do that on your initial email, but that's the level I want to get to with all my customers. When they need something I don't want them to think of my company first, I want them to think of me first.

The idea is to get them to the point where they feel like they're cheating on you if they buy from anyone else. And at the same time you provide them with the kind of service that makes them never want to go anywhere else.

I've never been a huge believer in sales rules for everybody. You either have the knack for sales or you don't. And everyone has a little different style that works for them.

Of course I don't really like following rules, so that may just be me.

[coonz]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

We had a zoom last week on what backgrounds to use in a zoom meeting and what 'props' to include behind you - like in a bookshelf behind you.

I've been looking to get out for years but I have never found my true passion. I feel like I spend a quarter of my day in meetings that are useless and / or trainings and / or 'team meetings' where people share ideas just to share. It's pretty depressing

We're not on this earth for long. Use each day as if it's your last. Life is too short to waste time in a role you don't enjoy