Writing Emails Like a C.E.O.
Words are your avenue to make an impact.
Words can make the difference between a hell yes and a flat-out no.
How much time, effort, and intention do you put into the words you use?
If emails are sucking you dry or you're on a quest for box zero, autopilot has likely taken over, wreaking havoc on the impact of your words.
The inbox struggle is real, producing ineffective, unclear, disorganized, and visionless communication.
I teach the Language of Leadership to help high performers communicate from a vision and toward powerful outcomes.
The Language of Leadership is based on intentionally writing to generate the desired results for yourself and others.
The Language of Leadership empowers others, and as a result, your inbox gets smaller.
When you role model the behavior you want, the emails you receive become clearer and more productive.
When your inbox gets smaller, you are less distracted and have more time to lead from your vision.
How you show up in your emails is a reflection of your personal leadership brand.
Here are 10 MUST HAVES and NEVER AGAINS before you hit send:
Emails that are direct, clear, and set expectations get better outcomes. Sounds simple, but it's a forgotten filter in the rush of the day.
Knowing is not understanding. What does success look like from reading your email? They may know what they are working on, but do they understand the impact of the project or the risk at stake? Spell it out for them. They should know what they're accountable for, why it is important, the next step, and what to do when they are challenged.
Be curious and foster curiosity. Lead others by asking them to be accountable for their actions and next steps. Help me understand is a powerful question that brings accountability.
Be careful how you use emotion in your emails. "This is frustrating; makes me angry; pisses me off; so disappointing; I can't stand, OMG.". Emails are no place for drama. The drama takes you and your team off their game and will not lead you to the outcomes you want.
Telling is not leading. Get out of the weeds and lead them to your vision. Write about the outcomes you want for your long-term results and relationships and not from the short-term distractions.
Scan your emails for shrinkers - words that diminish you and them - and minimize what you are saying. Words like: just, but, so. Delete them.
Check for unnecessary openers and apologies - saying sorry as an entranceway to a conversation is ineffective and also diminishing. Another way sorry shows up is by opening your email with: “I know you are busy.” We all are. Acknowledging that has nothing to do with your message. Get to the point.
Informality - I personally don’t like writing with shortcuts. Cut out the acronyms (OMG, TTYL, TY, RN, LOL), which make you small and your message smaller. If you don’t have time to write out a thank you, that’s a time management problem or, even worse, inauthentic gratitude.
People read into emails. If people are looking for the hidden meaning in your emails, that’s a signal of a lack of trust. The most productive emails say what they mean.
Validation - Are your questions looking for support making you look weak? ‘Does that make sense? Do you know what I mean?’ If it doesn’t make sense to you, rewrite your email to make it make sense.
One piece of thoughtful encouragement is an easy gift that can go a long way.
Emails are a place to influence. They are not a place to prove you are right. That’s ego, not leadership.
Stay off the defense. Get on the offense.
When you bring more intention to influencing, teaching, and leading, your emails will become a signature to your leadership.
People will even look forward to opening them.
Source: Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Read more about the Language of Leadership in For Success Sake! Extraordinary Possibilities for Life and Leadership. Available on Amazon.
Send me a picture of you with the book and I'll send you a copy of my Extraordinary Life journal.
If you are considering working with a High-Performance Success Coach or want to know more about the components of a coaching engagement, let’s get on a coaching call. As a business coach for women entrepreneurs, Executives, and Teams, my proven engagement method is highly results driven.
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