My old boss told me my emails sounded angry and it took me 6 months to realize he was right

I used to write work emails super direct, like just the facts. Customer service stuff. No hellos or thank yous. My boss pulls me aside after a complaint and says "people think you're mad at them." I was like no I'm just busy. But I started adding a "hope you're having a good day" or something small and suddenly people stopped calling me rude. It's stupid but it works. Anyone else get feedback that made you change a tiny thing and it made a huge difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.elizabeth22d ago

Used to think the whole "add a smiley" thing was dumb and a waste of time. Then I tried it for a week and people stopped asking if I was okay every time I sent a message. Kinda annoying that we have to do it, but it definitely changes how people read your tone.

terryh2022d ago

Right? Now I wonder if smileys are actually shaping how we feel not just how we're read.

black.joel18d ago

Wait, people were actually checking in on you just because you didn't use smileys? That's wild, I thought that was just a meme.