Nov 24, 2022 12:36 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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A couple thoughts come to mind in addition to the excellent thoughts from the community. In no particular order...
If you can talk to people first, do that before the email. You can spend a lot of time trying to write something perfectly that you could sort out very quickly by talking to someone. If you need a follow-up email for documentation, you can then be brief and not misinterpreted.
Ask for help rather than stating demands. It provides much less opportunity for people to read your intention as hostility.
If something needs to be done ASAP, explain why there is urgency. What are the consequences if they don't? I frequently have this discussion frequently when asking for help from those above me: How hard do I have to push and why? Explain the consequences of the "do nothing solution".
Ask for when they can reasonably meet your request considering their other obligations. That shows you understand they are already busy.
When asking for input, I will often use the terms "Please advise." Please shows respect and advise shows I value their input.
I would close the email with something closer to "Your help on this is greatly appreciated." than Thanks, Best Regards, Sincerely, or something that sounds very impersonal.
Also, have a peer review it first as Thomas suggested. Things sound different in your own head than they do to others.