My old boss told me I wrote emails like a robot and it actually helped me fix my tone

I used to write these super formal emails at work, like 'Per your request, please find attached the quarterly report for your review.' My boss finally pulled me aside after I sent one to a client and said I sounded like I was writing a legal document. She told me to just write how I talk and cut out all the extra words. So now I start with 'Here's that report you asked for' and it feels way more natural. Clients actually respond faster now too, which I didn't expect. Has anyone else gotten feedback like that where it changed how you communicate at work?

2 comments

2 Comments

samwalker14d ago

Honestly I read somewhere that people process slang and casual language way faster than formal business speak. Something like the brain has to decode all those extra words and it slows everything down. So your new approach makes total sense from a science standpoint. Your boss did you a solid by telling you that early on. Ngl it's wild how much more effective a simple 'here's that thing you wanted' can be compared to 'please find attached.' I bet your clients appreciate not having to wade through all that corporate fluff to get to the point.

williamhill14d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, @samwalker, you ever just ditch the fluff and watch people actually read your emails?