Write More Succinct, Effective Emails

Contributed by: Curtis Newbold, PhD

Difficulty level: Easy

There’s a real power that comes with writing effective emails. A well-written email is more likely to be read in its entirety; it’s more likely to persuade your reader(s) to act; and it’s more likely to be retrieved for later access. But there’s more to it than that: consistently writing strong emails makes you appear more competent, saves you time, increases workplace efficiency, enhances problem-solving capabilities, improves team culture, and prevents communication blunders that may haunt you down the road. That all may sound magical, but it’s not too hard to achieve if you consciously integrate a few communication techniques.

In this Shortcut, I’ll walk you through four key strategies for mastering the art of email communication:

1. Start with a specific, action-focused subject line

2. Get to the point—graciously

3. Make space and lists your friend

4. Utilize those highlighting techniques

First, Start with a Specific, Action-Focused Subject Line

Subject lines are not just a formality. They trigger attention, encourage reading, sift out spam, and make messages easier to find at a later date. To achieve an effective subject line, do the following:

• Summarize the content of the message, typically in three to seven words

• Use action-oriented language

• Avoid spam trigger words and clickbait

• Use urgency terms only when necessary

Summarize the Content of the Message

The subject ...