Christopher V. Flett

I’ve been talking on and again about how we are losing touch of relationships in business because technology makes it easier and more convenient to do business. Well…yes and no. I can have conference calls with clients/partners around the world for free (Good), I regularly get pissed off by an email on a weekly basis (BAD). The problem with email is that people you have no connection with feel empowered to talk to you like they know you. They haven’t established any form of relationship and they start making requests like you are responsible to them. This is not only wrong, but a quick way to get deep sixed.

Case in point:

A colleague has an administrator fresh out of school. This person is not seasoned in business, is in the big world, and probably assumes that if they act like a big dog, they’ll one day become a big dog. This works with pikers, but not with big dogs. The email went something like this (please keep in mind no relationship is in place.)

—

Chris,

Bob asked me to ask you to send the financials in a non PDF format to put into the business plan. It is too hard to read.”

Thanks,

Administrative Assistant person.

—

Let’s look at this piece of correspondence and identify the fatal errors that tell us that the person in question, lacks experience and common sense in dealing with someone like we who doesn’t take orders.

1. “Chris“. Okay, when we address people in western civilization, we have a salutation. It can be:

• Good afternoon
• Hi
• Hello
• Hi ya
• Bonjour
• Greetings

I don’t give a shit what it is, but don’t start your correspondence like you are summoning my attention.

2. “Bob asked me to ask you .” Don’t waste my time by telling me that you answer to someone. You want to be an equal, don’t tell me that your master has instructed you to do something. Just ask for what you want and get to the point. Don’t try to establish a hierarchy of how I’m getting my information. What your telling me is the person you report to was:

• Too busy
• Too important
• Uninterested
• Not sure how to approach me
• Other

And thus has empowered the lackey to connect with me and waste my time. Two strikes. One for master and one for lackey.

3. “Please.” It goes a long way people.

Don’t tell me what you need and why you need it. I don’t give a shit. Ask me for what you need politely and I’ll do my best to deliver.

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This might seem obvious to most of you, but having basic business skills is a necessity in today’s world. Especially when communicating digitally. Here is what the email should have looked like for her to get what she wanted. Will everyone be a hard-ass like me? Probably not. Will Alphas handle her like this? Definitely.

Hi Chris,

Could I please have the financials in Pages format to include into the business plan. I’ll get them in and send you and Bob both copies for your files.

Thanks for your time,

Admin Assistant.

—

If you are wondering why some people ignore your emails, don’t engage, or simply ignore you, have a look back at your communications with them and consider not what you meant to say, but likely what they heard through your email tone. It could make the world of difference between getting what you want and being told to ‘go away’. For employers out there, watch what your people are doing. If in doubt that you might be dealing with an email retard, script the common correspondence for them so that they don’t embarrass you.