Tips for maintaining digital decency in emails

Most professionals write emails that kill their credibility. Here's how to write emails that get results: I spent 3 years in a Big 4 consulting company, sending dozens of emails daily. Most got ignored or misunderstood. Then I learned the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Framework: - Respectful tone - Easy to scan  - Specific requests - Professional structure - Empathetic approach - Clear next steps - Timely responses This is how to get over 50% response rates. Here are 9 core templates that work: 1| Requesting Information ❌ Don't write: "Hi, need details about your services." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Could you share pricing and timeline for [specific service]? I'm making a decision by Friday." 2| Scheduling Meetings  ❌ Don't write: "Let me know when you're free." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Would you be available for a 30-minute discussion about [topic]? Options: Tuesday 2-3pm, Wednesday 10-11am, or Thursday 3-4pm?" 3| Following Up Professionally ❌ Don't write: "Just checking if you saw my email." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Quick follow-up on [specific topic]. This helps us move forward with [outcome]. Could you review by [day]?" 4| Declining Requests Gracefully ❌ Don't write: "I can't do this right now." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Thank you for thinking of me for [request]. I can't commit due to [brief reason], but let's reconnect in [timeframe]." 5| Apologizing for Delays ❌ Don't write: "Sorry I'm late with this." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], [Deliverable] will be ready by [new date]. The delay ensures [quality improvement]. Thanks for your patience." 6| Providing Feedback ❌ Don't write: "This needs work." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Strong work on [project]. Highlights: [specific strength]. To strengthen: [clear suggestion]. Want to discuss details?" 7| Disagreeing Respectfully ❌ Don't write: "I don't think this will work." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Thanks for your approach on [topic]. Here's another perspective: [alternative]. Let's discuss what works best." 8| Confirming Details ❌ Don't write: "Got it." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Received and confirmed: [specific details]. I'll have [deliverable] ready by [date]." 9| Introducing Yourself ❌ Don't write: "Hi, let's connect." ✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], I'm [title] at [company]. I'd like to explore [specific opportunity] that could benefit [their goal]." Check the visual for templates 10-12, so you don't miss any of them. The pattern is simple: • Lead with respect • Focus on their needs • Be specific, not vague • Make responding easy • End with clear next steps Your email tone reflects your professionalism. Make every message count. P.S. What email situation stresses you most? 📧 Join the free clarity code: ↗ https://lnkd.in/d5fXZeUQ ♻️ Repost to help your network communicate better 🍀 Follow Emanuel Balsa for daily career tips ✅ Save for future email success

Email can be an amazing tool — when used correctly. Just keep these six rules in mind before you send your next email. (I'm talking about a work or personal email — not a newsletter, though many of these rules apply to both!) 1) Ask yourself: Should I even send this email? — Oftentimes, the answer is no! If you need to pass along a lot of information via links or attachments; if you’re looking for the recipient to take specific action; or if you want to pass along a quick, personal note, email is great! Otherwise, have that conversation in person or over the phone. It can be really, really hard to convey tone over email, so having tough conversations IRL is a much better idea. 2) Make your subject line clear — I love to send emails that are super specific. I write a lot of subject lines with questions: “Can you send me _______ by the end of the day?” Or emails that convey the message right up front: “I loved your recent article!” Nobody should open an email and not know what they’re about to read. 3) Take advantage of that preheader space — That’s a term we use to refer to the snippet of preview text you’ll see on your phone or in Gmail. Your recipient can read the first 5-10 words of your email — so skip the greetings and the “Hope all is well!”-type messages and get right to the point! 4) Personal emails are the best kind of emails — A personal email is a great way to make people feel like their work is actually important. And when people feel appreciated, they’re more likely to write back, take action, or help! If possible, I try not to send mass emails. I’ve found that an email that goes out to a group of 10+ recipients gets far fewer responses than an email that goes out to only 1-3 people. 5) Use bullets or numbered lists — Remember: More and more people are reading emails on their phone, which means readability matters. If you’re writing emails in a giant block of text, your recipient might skip through the whole thing. Take advantage of bullets and lists that can make your email much easier to read. 6) Make your “ask” as clear as possible — One of the reasons I love email is because it allows you to ask a specific person to take a specific action. But the recipient should know exactly what action they should take, and also how you’ll hold them accountable. When I need to get a specific thing done, I usually ask over email. ——— 📷 If you were to look through my Gmail account — and here’s a sample of the types of messages recently in my outbox — you’d see a lot of very specific subject lines (“Finding a new time for our coaching calls”) and bullet points. The more to-the-point I am with my emails, the likelier my clients are to reply.

Most emails at work are too long, too late, or too emotional. Especially in mid and senior roles, email is not just communication—it’s reputation on record. Here are 5 email tips I use that might just save you from your next oops moment: 1. Never Reply in Anger An angry reply is never the power move you think it is. You won’t win a war of words over email—just escalate it. Breathe. Walk. Call. Or better, talk in person. 2. Write for Mobile, Not for Glory Over 80% of emails are read on phones. Yet we keep formatting like we’re publishing a brochure. Keep it clean, simple, and scroll-friendly. 3. Inbox Zero Is a Mirage Chasing a zero inbox is like chasing nirvana with a to-do list. Let some emails marinate. Not every message needs an instant reply. You're paid to prioritize, not to ping-pong. 4. Some Problems Solve Themselves Every now and then, inaction is wisdom. That annoying thread? Give it time. Silence can be strategy. 5. Be Brief, or Be Ignored Long emails = long snooze. Your audience is busy. If they have to scroll thrice, you’ve already lost them. Lead with the point, not a preamble. 💬 Have an email rule you live by? Drop it in the comments—someone out there might need it today. 🔁 And if this helped, share it with someone who’s about to hit “Reply All.” 🧱

⛔️Stop apologizing in your emails! It’s time to communicate like a leader. What if I told you that one simple change could boost your credibility instantly? - I used to say “sorry” all the time. Every delay, every small mistake, every inconvenience? I would apologize. 😔 But here’s the truth → unnecessary apologies can diminish your credibility. They even dilute the impact of the word “sorry” when it's truly needed. So, how do we communicate with confidence and clarity without over-apologizing? Check out this insightful guide from Project Management: 1. Took a while: ➦ Instead of “Sorry for the delay,” ➨ Say “Thanks for your patience.” 2. My schedule matters too: ➦ Replace “What works best for you?” ➨ With “Could you do…?” 3. Yeah, you are welcome: ➦ Swap “No problem/No worries” ➨ For “Always happy to help.” 4. I know what I’m doing: ➦ Ditch “I think maybe we should…” ➨ For “It’d best if we…” 5. Working this is hard: ➦ Stop rewriting your email for 40 minutes. ➨ Opt for “It’d be easier to discuss in person.” 6. Do you get it?: ➦ Rather than “Hopefully that makes sense?” ➨ Use “Let me know if you have questions.” 7. Where are we on this: ➦ Instead of “Just wanted to check in,” ➨ Ask “When can I expect an update?” 8. I made a small error: ➦ Skip “Ahh sorry my bad, totally missed that,” ➨ And say “Thanks for letting me know.” 9. I have an appointment: ➦ Replace “Could I possibly leave early?” ➨ With “I will need to leave at…” Adopting these small changes can transform your professional communication. You’ll come across as more confident and credible. Stop being subservient. It’s not a good look. Let’s stop the unnecessary apologies and start owning our communication. We can rewrite our professional narrative. One bold, unapologetic email at a time. — ♻️ Repost to empower someone in your network. Follow me, Shulin Lee, for more. P.S. I’m not asking people to be rude. “Sorry” is sometimes needed. But if you’re using it most of the time, it probably isn’t.