Stop, Reread and Think Before You Send

Twice this week I've had onliners send accusatory e-mails because they did not take the time to read my previous correspondence. In both cases, my e-mails were very clear. The accusations were born because the other side obviously did not take the time to read my e-mail (or previous e-mails on the same topic) in their entirety.

Yes, I know... We are all in a hurry. Too busy to get anything done. Not enough time in the day! But when you don't take the time to read, really read, the e-mails you are responding to, you risk looking unappreciative and down right rude. Then, to add salt to the wound, because you assumed based on a quick overview instead of taking the context in it's entirety, you risk looking downright ignorant.

And, no, saying, "I may have not read your e-mail thoroughly but..." before you type your accusations, doesn't make your claims valid or right. You simply look as though you have no ability to pay attention to details -- not to mention lazy. What does it say about a person who whips off an accusatory e-mail but doesn't take the time to read the details about which they are complaining? Not much in my book.

It is every onliners job to read communications completely before responding to them. It is also each onliners responsibility to ensure they are responding appropriately. Before you make accusations, be sure that what you are responding to is in fact what the person said or provided. You need to take the time to think about if what you are typing is apropos and accurate to what was typed by the other side.

If you are in a hurry and don't have time to read previous e-mails before you reply to them in haste, then don't reply until you have the time to send an educated response. You'll save face and eat a lot less humble pie in the process!