Avoid the Pitfalls of Emotions in Email (HBR)
We all struggle with how to communicate emotion over email. Without normal cues like tone of voice or facial expressions, miscommunication can happen easily. These recommendations can help: People overestimate their ability to convey emotions in email. The simplest way to avoid confusion is to explicitly state the emotion you want to relay. For example, “I’m very happy with this…” or “I’m confused…” People also read and interpret emotions differently. Prevent misunderstandings by imagining how your email will sound to the recipient. We tend to trust those who act like us. Mimicking the style of the person you’re emailing, whether through emoticons, exclamation points, or slang, can help you come across the way you intend. It’s easy to appear fake or ungenuine over email. Sometimes, making an intentional typo can help you seem warmer and more authentic, especially when you’re in a position of power. Adapted from “The Dos and Don’ts of Work Email, from Emojis to Typos,”