Ditch These Email Habits to Boost Your Workplace Credibility Instantly!

When you write emails at work, you might want to sound friendly and polite. Many people use phrases like 'just checking,' 'no worries either way,' or add lots of exclamation marks and smiley faces. While these habits can make your emails seem warm, experts say they might actually make you look less professional and less confident. Hannah Salton, a careers coach, and William Hanson, an etiquette coach, explain why so many people write emails this way and how it can affect the way others see you at work.

One thing people do is use a lot of exclamation marks, like writing 'Thanks very much! ' instead of just 'Thanks. ' Hannah says that exclamation marks are used to show excitement and positivity. Research shows that women use exclamation marks three times more than men. This could be because women are sometimes judged more harshly if they are direct, and are called bossy or other negative words. However, using too many exclamation marks can make your emails seem fake or show that you are not confident. Over time, this can hurt your credibility at work.

Another thing people do is use emojis or kisses at the end of emails. William says that emojis can be confusing because they mean different things to different people. Sometimes, using emojis can make you look less serious or less responsible. He suggests using clear words instead of emojis to show friendliness. He also says you should not put a kiss at the end of an email unless you would actually kiss that person in real life.

Many people also use soft language in their emails, like 'just checking,' 'does that make sense? ' or 'hope that's ok. ' Hannah says that these phrases can make you sound unsure of yourself. If you use them too much, people might think you are not confident or not capable. This is especially important if you are a manager, because you want to be both liked and respected. If you are not direct, people might see you as less strong or less effective.

So, what should you remove from your emails to be taken more seriously? Experts suggest cutting out words like 'just,' pre-emptive apologies like 'sorry to bother you,' reassurance checkers like 'does that make sense? ' and 'no worries either way,' as well as exclamation marks, emojis, and kisses. However, you do not have to remove all your personality from your emails. Hannah says it is important to show who you are at work, but you should not use these habits just to make people like you.

To improve your emails, pay attention to the emails you receive from others. Notice which ones sound clear and confident, and which ones seem too much. You can also use tools like AI to help you review your emails and remove extra words.

In the end, being friendly and professional at the same time is possible. You can still show your personality, but try to avoid using too many extra words or symbols. This will help people see you as more serious and confident at work, and could even help you get promoted.