Technology has made it possible for us to be more connected and engaged with each other than ever before. However, increasing reliance on texting and emojis can lead to a decrease in professionalism in phone and email communication. Not sure if you’re using proper etiquette? Check out our do’s and don’ts below.
Phone Etiquette
Do’s
- Before your phone call, make sure that you are in a quiet place and free from interruptions
- Check that the phone connection is strong
- Introduce yourself by stating your name and reason for calling
- Ask if it’s a convenient time to talk and if not, ask what time would work best
- Give the person on the other end of the call your contact information
Don’ts
- Sound like a robot – make sure you’re conversational
- Forget to ask who you are speaking with so that you will be able to reference the conversation and who you spoke with
- Go into your phone call unprepared – know what you’re going to talk about
- Hang up the phone without thanking the person you talked with for their time
Email Etiquette
Do’s
- Keep the subject line relevant and short
- Introduce yourself and your organization in the beginning line of your email
- Be clear and concise
- Make sure that your email is professional – that is, don’t use slang or be overly familiar
- Proofread and fix any typo’s in your email
Don’ts
- Forget to address the person that you are emailing
- Draft a long email
- Type in all caps or use a lot of exclamation points
- Use text lingo or abbreviations – spell things out
- End your email without a signature and your contact information
Proper phone and email etiquette is important and can impact whether you are seen as professional or not. With practice, you’ll be a pro in no time!
