Long gone are the days of hand written letters and in are the times of electronic communications. E-mail is such a widespread method of staying in touch for both work and personal use, however with all new things, there is still much to be understood by the general populous. Let’s take the next few minutes to polish up why the tone you take in work messages should differ greatly from chatting with friends.

First of all, it’s important to recognize that the environment in which you work is not nearly the same as one in which you’d hang out with buddies. Work environments obviously demand a certain level of respect and social polish; which must be carried into email. For whatever reason, many folks feel it is necessary to inject extra emotion into electronic messages. Pumping what should be a quick note, full of wish wash, can and will damage your reputation. Trust me when I say that a to-the-point attitude is more well-received.

The modern workplace is a fast-paced arena of skilled professionals and others will appreciate it when you cut to the chase. With that in mind, if you have something to say to co-workers, engage in writing practices that are conducive to a “less is more” way of thinking. What you’ll quickly find is a decrease in meetings and phone calls once you’ve committed to crafting emails that clearly provide the necessary info to whoever you’re addressing.

Now, there are of course times in which a more formal and respectful tone is appropriate. Hiring processes, turning in reports, etc. all require a higher level of polish than day to day operations. Make the world a place full of better communications and cut the fat when writing email. You’ll be glad you did.

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