The Problem with Being "Too Nice" in Emails

Petra was in her usual spot, surrounded by a mountain of papers and a rainbow of sticky notes.?

Her laptop screen illuminated her determined face as she tackled yet another email to her team.

Despite her confidence, Petra often found herself agonising over the right tone and wording for her emails.?

One afternoon, facing a looming project deadline, she carefully crafted what she thought was a polite email, softening her concerns with apologies.

But as she hit send,?doubt crept in.???

"Am I being too soft?"

"Will they take me seriously?"

It was a classic case of?email anxiety.

Sound familiar????

I've been there too, spending hours?at my keyboard, trying to strike the perfect balance between assertive and diplomatic.

And let's face it, email can be tricky.?

Being overly polite can water down your message and avoiding directness can lead to confusion.

So, let's talk about the?three big mistakes we often make in our emails.

3 BIG PROBLEMS...

1. Saying sorry too much:

We've all started emails with unnecessary apologies, like?"I'm sorry to bother you, but..."

These apologies can make our messages seem less urgent or important.?

2. Using wishy-washy language:

Phrases like?"I just wanted to ask..."?or?"It's only a small concern, but..."?downplay the importance of what we're saying, making it easier for others to ignore our requests.?

3. Beating around the bush:

Instead of getting straight to the point, we sometimes dance around the issue, fearing we'll come across as too pushy.?

But being indirect can lead to misunderstandings and delays.

Sound familiar??(Yep, guilty as charged!?????♀?)

But here's the good news: I've got three simple tips to help you write assertive emails like a pro.

3 SIMPLE TIPS...

1. Be clear and to the point:

Cut the fluff and get straight to the point. Your recipient will appreciate it, trust me.

2. Use confident language:

Swap out wishy-washy phrases for assertive ones. Instead of?"I just wanted to ask,"?try?"I'm reaching out to discuss..."

3. Set clear expectations:

Let your recipient know exactly what you need from them, whether it's a response by a certain deadline or action to be taken. Clarity is key!

And if you're tired of agonising over every word in your emails...

...I've got just the thing for you: simple,?copy-n-paste email templates.