Avoid the Email Trap with One Simple Rule
September 14, 2009
As educators increase the use of email for interaction"between both peers and students"the question of etiquette arises.
The golden rule: Do not use email to resolve conflict.
"Tone is not conveyed well in an email," said Joni Daniels, a management training professional and founder of Daniels and Associates, a consulting firm for organizational development.
"If you get a feeling that someone has misunderstood your intention or meaning, do not resolve the misunderstanding by another email. Pick up the phone and talk to them, or better yet, meet with them in person."
She added that when emailing colleagues, you should refrain from including private information. "Someone could be looking over your shoulder. Remember that any email can be forwarded, copied or posted. What would your boss, colleagues or students think if what you had written was published?"
Margaret McDonald, a business communication consultant and author of the "Miss Communications" newspaper column, agrees. "In teaching, this is particularly dicey. Not only because of the subject matter that might be discussed, such as specific students, grades, other colleagues, public policy, but because the supported-by-public-funds angle can become very interesting to journalists and others."
McDonald also advises to refrain from sending forwards and junk mail. "Yes, there's some very funny stuff out there"and sharing a laugh with colleagues can be great for morale and camaraderie, but many people are tired of receiving it, and the content could, inadvertently, cross moral boundaries."
After all, if you have something you just have to share, there is always the good old-fashioned bulletin board.
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