Emotional Intelligence in Email

Have you ever sent an email that was misinterpreted by the reader?  Have you ever sent an email that communicates an emotion you didn’t intend?  Have you ever received an email that made you feel angry or insulted?  Whether networking for a job, communicating with a potential client, or even with colleagues in the office or at school, the tone of email matters. 

Email communication is full of unintended misunderstandings – one study indicates that only slightly more than 50% of email communication is interpreted correctly.   Of course written communication itself is not new, but the proliferation of email in the recent past makes for increased opportunities for misunderstanding.  The ease and speed with which it is transmitted can make email feel more informal than it really is.  

Clear communication is at the core of what lawyers do, and it is important to develop email writing skills as students.  An unintended tone in an email can be viewed as unprofessional and reflect badly on a job application.  But even well-intended emails can be misinterpreted.  One way to solve the problem is to read the email aloud before sending it.  You may catch a phrase that should be edited when you hear it aloud.  There is even a new email tool that purports to prevent misunderstanding by scanning your email for emotional tone and offering suggestions for more accurate communication.  But don’t over-rely on technology to correct your emails.  Take steps now to learn to write clear, unambiguous emails with no unintended emotions.