How to Write Emails That Build Trust and Get Results

Here's a question for you .

You've written your subject line , you've structured your email , but how will your message make the other person feel Wait , feelings In an email ? Yes , because leadership communication is emotional and how you communicate as a leader often gets amplified , whether you're giving instructions , requesting input or pushing a deadline . How you come across as a leader matters .

Tone can build trust or break it . And guess what ? Without facial expressions or body language , email tone is incredibly easy to misread , leading to misunderstandings , and misunderstandings can lead to a lot of unintended consequences

. So here's one simple thing you can test out today Before you hit send , read your message through the eyes of the recipient . Ask yourself how might they interpret the way I've written this email ? Am I being clear or vague ? Am I likely to come across as warm or cold , patient or impatient , confident or aggressive ?

And here's a tip I give to leaders that I coach . If you wouldn't say it that way out loud , don't write it that way . Now let's finish by talking about calls to action

. Talking about calls to action Most of the time , your email isn't just there to inform . It's there to move something forward . But vague requests or no requests at all simply waste time . With no clear statement of what you expect , I as the reader am left not knowing what to do . Do you actually want me to take action ?

Or perhaps you'd prefer that I ignore your email ? Then why bother writing to me in the first place ? What's my advice ? Lead clearly and kindly no-transcript . Can you confirm the budget by 3pm Wednesday ? Please review the attached draft and send edits by Friday . If you agree , I'll proceed with the client proposal .

In fact , some people state up front in the subject line what they expect the reader to do . For example , you could add a word or phrase before your subject line , such as action required , please review decision needed . Please comment save the date urgent or for your information only .

If this indeed is the intended purpose , this helps your reader know not only what you expect , but also how and when to process your email . I'm sure you're getting the gist of this by now and remember you're not being bossy , you're being

helpful . You're not being bossy , you're being helpful . When it comes to emails , clarity is kindness and , by the way , these same principles apply to how you communicate via other messaging channels that you might be using at work . So I recommend that you do a final what's-in me the reader check before you send your email .

Put yourself in your recipient's shoes and ask yourself why does this matter to them ? What might be on their mind ? How would it make it easier for them to be able to action something ? The moment you write with their perspective in mind , your message becomes more human , more meaningful and more effective .

If you're a leader , use empathy and clarity in your emails . Write like a real person , be specific in what you ask for and , above all , every message you send is a moment of truth for your leadership , and that's another One simple thing . Thanks for tuning in . Remember , small steps can lead to big changes .

Test out this one simple thing and notice how it transforms your day . Let me know how you get on . Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me . Mention the podcast and if you'd like to learn more One Simple Things , then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn Leading People page .

In our next episode of One Simple Thing , we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you . And in between , you can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about yes , you've guessed it leading people . So until then , keep exploring and stay curious .