How to Increase your Daily Productivity through Positive Communication

Ellen Ericson, Business Etiquette and Protocol Expert

Fall is right around the corner, and sometimes the busy whirlwind of this transitional time can cause unintentional lapses in communication etiquette. Whether meeting with your child’s teacher(s) this school year, tackling fresh collaborative projects, or communicating with new clients and co-workers, clear communication is the key to avoiding misunderstandings and to building mutual respect. Misunderstandings that arise from ineffective communication habits waste time and energy, yet the things that seem the most obvious are often the first forgotten. Fortunately, most communication faux pas can be avoided by remembering a few basic etiquette tips.

To insure that miscommunications do not turn your life into an episode of “Three’s Company,”—although that may result in hilarity—Adon Solutions is pleased to present you with advice from business etiquette and protocol expert, Ellen Ericson. Ellen teaches Fortune 500 companies, law firms, non-profit organizations, and business professionals how to refine their corporate culture and communication skills. She is certified from The Protocol School of Washington® and holds her BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Masters in Business Administration from NYU’s Stern School of Business in the Executive MBA program. Ellen speaks at corporate retreats and conferences, conducts seminars, and provides leadership development and one-on-one coaching to individuals.

Since Adon Solutions is all about providing you with both personal and professional assistance so you have more time and energy for the things that matter most, we asked Ellen to share some of her top tips for increasing daily productivity through positive email communication.

Ellen’s top tips for productive, positive email communication

1.Always use a salutation.
2. Make it brief.
3. Always have a subject line that is relevant to your email text.
4. Always have a body to your email. Do not just write in the subject line and leave the rest of the email blank.
5. Proofread your email; do not distribute with typos or grammatical errors, it looks rushed, sloppy and unprofessional.
6. Proofread your distribution list. How many bad stories have we heard about the sales executive who accidentally copied his client on an email that ranted about what a clod his client was in that day’s meeting and why the deal won’t close by the end of the quarter? (Now, it probably will never close).
7. Conclude your emails in a professional way (e.g., Best Regards). Please do not provide “A Thought for the Day” at the end of your email or a rainbow colored signature to sign off (they both are sophomoric and unprofessional).
8. Never put anything in writing when you are angry. Walk away, sleep on it and address the issue once your mind has cleared
9. Never put anything in writing that you would be embarrassed of if your boss received a copy of it (e.g., anything that defames your boss, colleagues, company or clients).
10. Do not use email for sensitive issues (e.g., downsizing an employee, a job resignation, sending your condolences to a colleague about a death in his family). Pick up the phone or set up a face-to-face meeting instead.
11. Do not use emoticons or what some refer to as “monkey talk” – acronyms that are cute (e.g., LOL, BRB).

Nota bene:

Ellen says:

“Emails are an efficient way to communicate for business and social purposes. It’s faster initially, but many times important conversations need to take place in person or by phone. Email is effective for short communiqué, but at times, does more of a disservice when people are trying to communicate sensitive issues over this medium. Let’s continue to use this medium wisely and not abuse it when a more personal communication vehicle is the better choice.”

For more on Ellen’s services, visit ellenericson.com or connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EricsonConsulting) and Twitter (@EricsonConsult).
Special Thanks to Ellen for giving us her expert advice.