You put a lot of care into writing your first-ever email to a boss. You considered and reconsidered your facts, tone, and other elements you no longer recall.
After you pressed Send, and your email was well-received, you must have wondered if there was a faster, simpler way to write effective emails to your boss consistently.
Fortunately, there is! We’ve boiled down essential components of emails to bosses into four foolproof tips.
(We’ve included links to customizable templates and other handy resources to get you going.)
Tip #1: Be concise, not complete.
Your boss doesn’t need every detail documented in an email. Relay only what they need to know to make a decision. Take a beat to understand the core of what you want to communicate, and structure your email around it.
- Summarize. Don’t fire off information lacking context. And don’t depend on your boss’ memory of previous discussions to get them reengaged.
- Use bullets, short paragraphs, and other sensible formatting to organize text.
- State clearly when your boss is required to take action. Highlight deliverables dates. Type “urgent” in your subject line when warranted.
Tip #2: Be an outstanding asset to the team.
Share your unique perspective and know-how. Don’t just ask questions or pass off problems: Present solutions and next steps that will make you a go-to team member.
- Outline steps you’ve taken so far. You’ve done what you’re able, and now you need your boss’ OK or clout to finish the job.
- Establish how you can continue to help. If a situation is beyond your skill set or pay grade, let your boss know precisely how you can support them. Tasks like running reports or acting as a liaison with other teams help the cause (and your professional reputation).
- State when you need their reply. If your boss is bad about replying, note what you plan to do and when–e.g., “I’ll move forward with this plan unless I hear otherwise from you by close of business on the 30th.” If they don’t reply, go forth and consider your butt covered.
Tip #3: Leverage SaneBox to simplify boss-bound emails.
- Use this collection of templates as a starting point for can’t-fail emails to your boss. Fill in the blanks for instant professional emails. Customize as needed.
- Keep these insights into building a great email relationship with your boss at your fingertips.
- Business etiquette matters! Review these guidelines for conveying the appropriate amount of respect for your boss in emails.
Beyond the resources above, SaneBox is an ideal email productivity booster. Its A.I. manages your inbox the way you want. It sorts inbound emails into nifty folders. Important messages sit front-and-center. Less-critical ones are grouped for your review later. Pesky emails you’d rather not see? Let SaneBox take them out of your way.
Tip #4: Finish strong.
Dot your electronic I’s and cross your digital T’s. Before you press Send:
- Ensure you haven’t included highly sensitive content unless email security measures are in place. (And don’t write anything you don’t want living on a server forever.)
- If you added others to an email conversation, type “+[name]” at the top so your boss knows who’s on the email.
- Confirm that relevant files are attached and that links work.
- Run a spelling and grammar check one last time.
Emails to Your Boss Can Be Effective and Easy
Use these tips and tools to write emails to your boss effectively, quickly, and confidently.
The post 4 Foolproof Tips for Writing Emails to Your Boss appeared first on SaneBox Blog.