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E-Mail Tip #9 - Don't Hide Behind the Screen

Guest post by: Robert Whipple

Article Overview: Some people communicate things in e-mails that they would be reluctant to do in person. In effect, they hide behind the screen for protection. This strategy usually backfires for some percentage of notes written with this problem. This article contains an analysis of this problem and suggestions to prevent it.

E-Mail Tip #9 - Don't Hide Behind the Screen

There is a certain isolation and anonymity in the cyber-world that works for and against good communication. On one hand, since you are not face to face, there is little chance of being punched, even if you do make someone angry. Therefore, some people are emboldened to speak their truth in graphic detail as they "hide behind the screen." The good part is that it reduces the tendency to spin everything to be politically correct in every note. The bad part is exactly the same thing. People can vent in inappropriate ways that escalate rather than reduce conflict. Lobbing an e-grenade at a co-worker seems a lot safer than delivering the message in person.

How can you know if you are guilty of inflaming situations with your correspondence? One simple rule is: Never send something in an e-mail that you would not say to the other person face to face. Don't hide behind your screen!

Another method is to test the level of "edge" communicated in your notes. "Edge" is a person's level of aggressiveness, initiative, and candor. If your electronic edge is higher than your normal oral interactions, you have gone too far. One helpful thing about e-mails is that you have a trail of everything you have sent in your "sent items" file. You can go back at any time and reread previous notes to be sure that you are not hiding behind your screen. Never clean out your "sent items" file. It is too valuable, especially with the ability to sort by date, subject, or recipient. What a fantastic filing system you have, already in your machine!

Like most of the other concepts in this series, the importance of the advice not to hide behind the screen is greatly amplified if you are in a leadership position. Each of the items in this article can help make trust deposits or create huge withdrawals through the ratchet effect. Leaders typically get a lot more e-mail than other people due to the number of interfaces they have. With less time to read and respond to each e-mail, leaders need good e-body language skills. Leadership can be enhanced or destroyed by online habits. If you are an e-leader, make sure your tone is helping your cause. The damage done by troublesome e-mails lingers.

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Article Tags: email, hide, Leadership, screen, trust



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