Anybody can write an email when the situation is good and the desired results have been met. But, what do you do when the situation was not good? Like, when your host institution closes up shop for the Winter Break and you have 30 international students that are expecting lunch and the main dining hall on campus is closed and the nearest restaurant is a good two miles away?
In maintaining the proper e-mail etiquette when the situation is not good, please note the following:
First, it is important to watch your tone and do not let your emotions get involved when constructing your e-mail. Even if the person is dead wrong, you do not want the person to feel that they were attacked. Next, convey understanding and empathy for their perspectives (even if you don't agree) while at the same time information is being conveyed. Lastly, a good rule of thumb is, if you don't want it on the front page of the New York Times, don't press "send".
http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com/ (C) 2009-11
No comments:
Post a Comment