10 email mistakes that could cost you heavily
Emails sent after happy hour
Company happy hour after work? It’s probably best to respond to important mails next day and not to respond to emails from home after a night out. Very important. It says that attend to important business mails only when you are in a proper business mood, and not casually.
Sarcasm and dry humor
Email is not a good medium to convey the intricacies of sarcasm, and often it can be taken out of context – with disastrous repercussions.
Private matters
Always better to separate business and pleasure – and using company resources for personal matters is generally a bad idea.
Professional criticisms
If it’s a small thing, say it over the phone; otherwise it looks too official and can cause unnecessary worry. If it’s really bad, discuss it in person.
Personal remarks and gossip
It’s very easy to treat email like water cooler conversation, but these emails can have a tendency to get ‘Forwarded’.
Angry responses
It’s easy to fire off an angry response without thinking, but not always easy to retract it. Best to put a delay on your email if possible, or wait a day before you respond if you’re really that upset.
Bad language
Most people just don’t do it, but for the few who do – it’s a terrible idea; swearing has no place in any mail.
Company or industry secrets
This one may well get you sued as well as sacked. Most companies have a confidentiality agreement you sign at the beginning of your employment that would be violated in this case.
Racist/sexist language
It’s best to avoid this in your everyday speech, as well as your work emails. Like the above, most people sign a zero-tolerance agreement which would be violated and such violations are grounds for termination.
Sloppy writing
Even if it’s sent from your iPAQ while you’re at the beach, remember that your image is on the line.
Last but not least, if you work in government or other offices of interest to the general public, be extra cautious. Very abundant in the news are email leaks that get government and other official people in serious trouble.
