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Running Hybrid Teams Across Joburg and Cape Town
Thandiwe Mokoena
- 9 January 2024
- Comment 4
Most business emails are too long. The reader wants to know what you need and by when. Put that in the first two lines, then add the detail underneath.
Use a clear subject line, such as “Quote request: Friday delivery”. Keep sentences short and avoid long, heavy words.
Read your email aloud before you send it. If you run out of breath, cut it. Charlene Adams, Communication Skills TrainerFinish with one clear next step. Ask a single question, name a date and say thank you. Your reader will reply faster and with fewer follow-up questions.
Start with the point
Do not build up slowly to your request. Open with what you need, add the reason in one sentence and stop. Busy managers in Joburg and Cape Town read emails on their phones, so short is kind.
Check tone before you send
A tired, rushed email can sound rude. Read it once more and add a greeting and a thank you. This takes ten seconds and protects the relationship with your customer or colleague.
Johan Botha
I really enjoyed this post. We used the tips with our sales team in Sandton and saw results within a month. Very useful.
Megan O'Connor
Thank you for the kind words, we are glad the article helped your team. Your support means a lot to us. Thanks!
Nomvula Dlamini
Practical and clear. The advice on training new managers is exactly what our HR team needed. Thank you for sharing it with other South African businesses.
Rajesh Naidoo
Helpful ideas on getting staff to finish training. We have already shared this article with our team leaders in Bryanston. Well done to the whole team.