Email Best Practices: How to Send a Better, More Effective Email

Do This, Not That For Better Team Email Communication

When you’re working in a remote or hybrid team, having a common agreement on your email best practices will save you gobs of time and frustration. Start with subject lines that tell the reader exactly what you need from them and when. Talk about who it makes sense to cc, and when. Create team norms for when to ditch the email and send a text for a quicker response. And, of course, ensure everyone knows when to pick up the phone or schedule a meeting for deeper conversation and decision-making.

In this article, I share some of the biggest challenges that derail email communication and best practices to prevent them.

5 Email Best Practice Tips For TeamsCreate a subject line protocol that tells your reader exactly what you need them to doWhen it comes to email less is more: Summarize, synthesize, and use bulletsIf the topic is complex, contentious, or emotional pick up the phone or schedule a callCC to share information, not for escalationSlow down and read what you’ve writtenAnd Avoid These Mistakes

I’m going to assume you’re way past email blunder basics: replying to all with snarky remarks, sending the note intended for your partner to your boss, or emailing when you’re angry, or after that second glass of wine.

Here are a few common email mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #1: Cryptic Subject Lines

The biggest frustration I hear from nearly every team I work with is cryptic subject lines.

“I shouldn’t have to read three-quarters of the way down an email to figure out what it’s about!”“I just wish the subject line would tell me what I need to do by when!”“Sooo….I woke up this morning to fifteen emails that all just had the subject line that read ‘update.’ I have no idea what kinds of updates, so I have to read them all to figure out what they are about. I’m so busy today and I have no easy way to prioritize my attention.”

Email best practices tips for teams #1: Create a subject line protocol that tells your reader exactly what you need them to do

Mistake #2: The Barrage Effect

Early in my Verizon days, I was preparing a very senior leader for an impromptu meeting with the CEO on an important subject she knew little about, and the situation was evolving rapidly. I wanted her to be as prepared as possible, so I went through my inbox and forwarded the relevant information one email at a time.

One email had data, the other trends, the other some commentary that would give her a sense of the political landscape. I carefully commented on each one to explain the context and forwarded it to her.

The phone rang. “Karin, I’m searching my inbox for your name and deleting everything that’s come from you. Now I want you to send me one email with concise bullets I can share at this meeting, nothing else. It would take me hours to dig through all of this and figure out what is going on.

Email best practices tips for teams #2: When it comes to email, less is more. Summarize, synthesize, and use bullets.

Mistake #3: Your Email Should Be A Phone Call

Has this ever happened to you?

My peer sent me an email. I wasn’t quite sure what he was saying, but it was REALLY ticking me off.

I filled in the blanks of my confusion with assumptions. He returned the favor. We went back and forth three times before we got to the root of the matter. We could have easily spared one another the frustration and misunderstandings if one of us had picked up the phone.

Email can feel easy and less disruptive than a phone call, but often wastes time and drains energy.

Email best practices tips for teams #3: If the topic is complex, contentious, or emotional pick up the phone or schedule a call.

Mistake #4: Too Many CCs

I could feel my direct report’s anger burn through the phone. “Why did he cc you on this email? I’ve got this! I’m not cc-ing HIS boss!” To the manager working hard to resolve this situation, this felt like an unneeded escalation.

Be sensitive to who you’re copying on a note and why. If you wouldn’t draw them into a meeting or phone conversation on the topic, you may want to think twice. Even better, establish norms of who will be copied on project emails.

Email best practices tips for teams #4: CC to share information, not for escalation

Mistake #5: Sloppy spelling and grammar

My phone rang. It was the head of HR “Karin, how could you recommend this guy for a senior role? I know you say he’s good, but let me forward the email he sent along with his resume.” I was shocked at the grammatical problems: “there” instead of “their” “to” instead of “too.” This guy’s a great leader and knows grammar, but he was moving too fast. His excited response cost him the job and embarrassed me for recommending him.

Email best practices for teams #5: Slow down and read what you’ve written

The most important email best practice is to talk about it as a team. One good “how we could do things around here” conversation can save hours of lost time.

See Also: Stop Emailing When You Should Have a Meeting 

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