Want to spend less time on emails but wary of sounding rude if you’re too brief?
Here’s the answer.
- Write all your emails and replies in bullet points.
- Add a note to your signature file to say you’re using bullet points to boost productivity.
Here’s how.
1. Using Bullet Points
Whether you’re organizing a meeting, answering a question, clarifying a point, or communicating any other information, distil each idea into a bullet point.
Bullet points mean:
- One idea per point
- Short, simple words
- Clear, direct communication.
You could also limit yourself to a set number of sentences. But bullet points have several advantages over sentences:
- They’re easier and quicker to write
- They’re easier and quicker to read
- The single idea per point means they’re simpler to understand fast.
Example 1: Organizing a Meeting
- Meeting: 1pm Tuesday 12 Nov Conference Room A
- Purpose: Assign responsibilities for Top Secret Project
- Reply: Yes to confirm.
Example 2: Answering a Sales Rep’s Question
- Product is available in hot pink
- Discount applies to blue and green colors.
Example 3: Clarifying a Point
- I did say I would be at the conference
- However I won’t be staying for the dinner
- Please deduct dinner charge from my invoice.
2. Adding an Explanatory Note
To avoid sounding abrupt, simply add a note along these lines to your email signature file:
————
I want to spend to less time on emails, so I’m using bullet points.
Join me: http://EmailBulletPoints.com
————
Will you try it? Let me know!
[Image: by rick]
Read an email etiquette article not to long ago that said you can answer the same way they wrote you. So I start all business emails as dear… Sincerely with my name and then if they write back with out a greeting and signature I do the same. Small but useful time saver. The article emphasized to write to the other person s level of expectations. More and more people don’t find it rude to be brief in email but a few still do. If I were to use tag line I wouldn’t say trying to save time, that tells me as the recipient that I’m not worth your time.. I’d say something like I’m trying to be more effective, or efficient not “save time” … Means the same but comes across differently.
El día de ayer envíe un email utilizando viñetas, eran varias consultas que necesitaba hacer a una persona, y resulta q me contesto diciendo que era una grocera al utilizar viñetas, quisiera saber como son las reglas de envío incluso para saber si amerita una disculpa
gracias
This might not work with all email, or for everyone, but it makes sense. Improve Email Productivity With Bullet Points http://bit.ly/cXY8Si
Oh Schnubbs, you’re the most efficient tiger I know! 🙂
I’m always looking for ways to make my email more efficient.
Thanks for this great tip!
Improve Email Productivity With Bullet Points http://bit.ly/b2KjAb
Improve Email Productivity With Bullet Points http://bit.ly/b2KjAb
RT @MicheleConnolly Improve Email Productivity With Bullet Points http://bit.ly/dhZHwo