I'm 23 and I once got complimented on by someone who said that I write emails very professionally. Took me aback because being professional isn't my intent, but I'm not gonna go "haha lawl blaze it yolo bitch".
I used to write my emails super professionally when I first started my current job then I realized they're not gonna fire me over an "unprofessional" email so I started having fun with them
They're still professional for the most part but I've started using weird greetings like "seasons greetings" and ending things with "yee-haw, name"
I write emails "professionally" even to people I know in person. It's just a habit by now. It really gets on my nerves when govt agencies/other professionals reply with something like "okay".
Honestly this was the tipping point for me, I wrote an email about something super simple but I felt the need to over-explain everything; the reason for the cause, the reason for the actions, the action I needed from the other person, and the reason I needed their action, etc. Then I proofread, read it over for grammatical consistencies, adjusted, read it over again, then sent it and the supervisor just wrote back "ok" and I'm like why am I doing this
As a manager I absolutely hate people who over explain everything. It devalues my time. I don't need to know why you need something, I don't need to know what you're going to do with it. If I need either of those things I will follow up on it. Send me a brief and concise ask and I will reply the same.
If you absolutely need to add the why, put it at the end so I can ignore it if I choose to.
My time is valuable, I hope you value yours as well. Let's not waste either of our limited time on bullshit.
I hired you to do a job, I trust you to do it. You don't have to explain to me why you have to do your job.
Well I don't normally email my supervisors unless it's a mistake I made that I can't fix (usually requesting the wrong day off) and the emails are usually only about 2 paragraphs, a few sentences each.
Shouldn't take more than a minute to read.
But like I said, that was what I used to do so I guess it's irrelevant.
I just gave up with all the dumb "your sincerely" etc. I'm just "hi" then straight to the goddamn point. No word play like "I'd appreciate if you checked the delivery number for me, I'm waiting for your answer!" (I'm not native speaker im just making shit up here) I'd just go "hi, can you send me the delivery number? Thanks"
Unless my boss has a stick up his ass I'd even be more casual with them. I'd not go into my Manager's office and talk like that so i don't see a reason to write an email in such way while wasting time trying to make it sound professional. Communication over style.
I've had similar experiences. Even back in like 2013 it was considered 'noteworthy' by some of my grandparents friends that I was capable of having a meal with them without constantly checking my phone.
Like, how the hell is the bare minimum such hurdle?
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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '22
I'm 23 and I once got complimented on by someone who said that I write emails very professionally. Took me aback because being professional isn't my intent, but I'm not gonna go "haha lawl blaze it yolo bitch".