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Effective Email: Email Training Course

You write emails on a daily basis but do they always get the results you want?
Are some of your email habits working against you? Most of us now spend a significant part of our working day dealing with emails, but email often makes work rather than helps getting it done. Despite being such an important part of work, very few people receive formal email training.

In our Email Masterclass you will learn the six principles that make email work. This includes how to address and sign off emails, organise your content and consider your audience, to make sure you get the best results from the emails you send. We discuss things that can affect the tone of your emails, and what to do if an interchange is becoming heated.

We also touch on technical issues to help you make the most of your email software, but the course does not cover specific use of email software in detail.

What you will learn on this email training course

During this course, you will cover:

How people decide which emails to read and which to ignore or delete
Ways to minimise the number of emails you receive – and cut your workload
Examples of the most common types of emails and how to write them – action requests and information requests
Picking out key points and making them stand out from supporting information
Writing emails that need to convey a lot of information
Useful conventions to keep your subject line short and punchy
Adapting your usual writing style to the medium of email
Adjusting your tone and formality for your reader and purpose
When not to copy others and how it could backfire
How to say "No" politely

What our customers say

“I feel the course has highlighted errors I make every day in emails and has developed my skills to overcome these.”

DT, John Wiley

“The course leader was very engaging, charming and understanding. She knew the material very well and drew on personal experiences and anecdotes for clear examples.”

MB, Harrods

“Excellent course, great trainer: friendly, relaxed, engaging.”

MDT, Perform Group

How we deliver the email training course

It is available as a half-day tutor-led Virtual Classroom.

Email Training Course Contents

Introduction

How do people decide what to read or action first? Understanding how your reader deals with email means they will read it rather than bin it

Principle 1. Get to the point

Distinguishing between essential and supporting information
How to get your critical points across
Structuring your content for maximum impact
What if I have a lot of supporting information?
Polite but firm action requests
How to write effective replies to requests for information from colleagues and clients
When you just can’t do it: how to say No politely

Principle 2. Only write it if you’d say it to their face – while your boss is watching!

Why do people misinterpret emails?
Have you ever been offended by an email? A look at what makes good email etiquette
How your words or punctuation can contribute to misunderstandings
How to repair the damage if it has already happened
It can come down to the little things: how do you address your recipient? How do you sign off?

Principle 3. Use the power of the subject line

Your subject is the key to getting your email read – learn some techniques from journalists on writing compelling subject lines
When and how to re-write a subject line if it no longer reflects the topic
Emerging conventions for abbreviations and ways to flag types of email in your subject line

Principle 4. Make email work for you, not against you

Email that works in the worst case scenario – and what that could be
How not to go wrong with attached files
Perils of HTML (and what the heck does it mean anyway?)

Principle 5. Write for keeps; write professionally

Never mind the paper trail, email really is forever – so make sure yours say the right things about you and your organisation
How to adapt your usual writing style to produce clear, focussed email text
Different recipients benefit from different tones or levels of formality: how you can adjust your tone to suit your reader and your purpose
How to keep out of court: legal disclaimers – do they really stand up?
Making promises – is email legally binding? (Hint – yes!)
Can the wrong email get you sued for libel? (Another hint – yes!)

Principle 6. Don’t make spam

Ask yourself who really needs to know and avoid abuses of reply all and the dreaded all company email
Who should you be copying on your emails? What it can say about you if you copy inappropriately
To email or not to email – or is there a better way? When you should consider alternatives, and what they are.

A look at some scenarios where email can backfire

Things you can do to cut back on the amount of email you have to deal with

Plain Words – the Documentation and Training People