你每天使用电邮 是否存在这些误区?

Many of us think we use email well. We don't. Too many of us rush, causing confusion and requiring more time to clarify misunderstandings later. We miss chances to build relationships, motivate others, close deals and convey important information.
Avoid the following 10 mistakes.
1. Using vague subject lines. 'Meeting,' 'Update,' or 'Question' provide no value as subject lines. Maximize the subject line's message. PDA users will get the message quickly; everyone will appreciate the clear summary. You can communicate plenty in a five to 10 word subject line: 'Your Action Items and Minutes from Last Week's Meeting.'
2. Burying the news. Convey the important points first: put dates, deadlines and deliverables in the first one to three lines of the message (if not also in the subject line). PDA limitations, time pressures, cultural distinctions and value judgments keep many readers from reading further.
3. Hiding behind the 'BCC' field. At best, the 'blind copy' field is sneaky and risky. At worst, it's deceitful or unethical. Plus, blind recipients sometimes hit 'reply all,' revealing the deception. Post the initial message and BCC no one. Then forward your sent message to others with a brief explanation.
4. Failing to clean up the mess of earlier replies/forwards. Few readers will wade through strings of previous messages. State your position clearly, even if context follows below in the email string. 'Yes' helps less than 'Yes, you can have the extra funding to hire 5 temporary workers.'

5. Ignoring grammar and mechanics. PDAs have granted us certain sloppy flexibility, which means you'll impress readers even more when you write precisely.
6. Avoiding necessarily long emails. Longer messages sometimes work best; they can help avoid attachments' hassle and security fuss. Don't fear long emails but outline your structure.
7. Mashing everything together into bulky, imposing, inaccessible paragraphs. Length does not discourage reading; bulk does.
8. Neglecting the human beings at the other end. Email travels between actual people, even though we don't see or hear each other directly.
9. Thinking email works best. Email is not always the best way to communicate. Need a quick answer from someone nearby? Stop by for a visit. Want a reply to unanswered emails? Pick up the phone. Looking for more gravitas? Mail a letter. Need to explain a complex or sensitive situation? Arrange a meeting.
10. Forgetting that email lasts forever. Most of us read, send and discard emails at lightning speeds. But don't forget that emails remain on a server somewhere as easy-to-forward proof of any error, offense or obfuscation we made.