The Basics of Workplace Email Etiquette

Courtesy of http://jesperdeleuran.dk/

In today's workplace, we have to deal with a high volume of email on a daily basis.  In fact, the average worker receives almost 130 emails a day.  In order to be able to handle these incoming messages to your increasingly full inbox; here are some basic guidelines to help you sort through and respond to those many emails:

Proofread every message

Nothing can be more embarrassing as having a very obvious spelling mistake in your email.  Always make sure to proofread and double check your emails before sending.  According to an article in Business Insider, one worker noticed one of their bosses spelling errors:   "One supervisor intended to write 'Sorry for the inconvenience.' But he relied on his spell-check and ended up writing 'Sorry for the incontinence.'" 

Be direct; include a clear subject line

Many people need to scan through their emails quickly, and having a clear and direct title in your subject line will help one understand the purpose of your email.  Subject lines like, "Meeting Time Changed" or "Question regarding your meeting", are very effective.  People often decide to open emails based on the subject line.

Add the email address LAST

This is a good tip that I had not considered previously.  In order to prevent mistakes and to prevent sending the email before it's ready, include the email of the recipient ONLY when you are ready to finalize and send the email. 

Avoid colored or eccentric fonts

Using an eccentric or a colored font may be fun, however it may look unprofessional to those you are emailing.  It is best to stick to a traditional font such as Arial or Calibri in black so it is easy to read and decipher. 

Do not use slang or abbreviations

Using a short cut, such as a "u" instead of spelling out "you" or "2" instead of "too" can be a nice and easy way to abbreviate your words, but it's best to keep this between your family and friends than your co-workers.  Using short cuts such as this can seem unprofessional and even rude to those receiving your email. 

Limit your exclamation points

Try to limit yourself to ONE exclamation point to express excitement!  If you use too many exclamation points, you may appear immature or a bit too passionate!  As you can see by my example above, it may come across as odd or overzealous.

Double check your recipient

Always make sure to check the recipient of your email.  Often times your email program may auto fill an address, and it may not always be the correct one.  If an email does not go to the correct person, it can be an embarrassing situation for yourself, and to the person who receives the email.  Especially if the email is a private matter.

Make sure to follow these basic tips to ensure your emails are always composed in a professional manner, and embarrassing situations are avoided.

The Evolution of the Desk

               

Cartoon courtesy of Caveman Love

We have come a long way from the origin of the primitive desk.  It has been said that the earliest signs of an example that is close to a desk system, dates back to around 3100BC in Orkney, Scotland.  This site shows the first signs of an organizational system of shelves and preparation areas.

Photo courtesy of BT Group

We can find other early examples of desks from the medieval period.  Many of these desks were used specifically by scribes (also known as modern day accountants), writers, and letter keepers.

This figure of St Jerome, from a 12th century Bible, gives a meticulous picture of the tools of the scribe. Courtesy of Medievil Writing

These desks eventually evolved into what is known as the bureau during the 1700s.  These desks began to incorporate drawers into the design.  Eventually this progressed to what is known as the secretary desk, which had items incorporated into it such as a hutch.  As time moved on, desks started to incorporate more items that made them more ornate with storage for inkpots and blotting sand.

Pennsylvania Slant Lid Desk, ca. 1770, courtesy of PBS

During the 18th and into the 19th century, the pedestal desk was introduced.  This became popular with everyday workers and Presidents alike.  One of the most famous desks that was produced during the 1880s is "The Resolute".  This desk was introduced into the White House as a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes.  Can you imagine working at this executive desk every day?

"Resolute Desk", picture courtesy of daniellesuniquestory

New production techniques introduced in the 20th centuries allowed for professional office furniture to be mass produced for the first time.  This mass production was triggered by the growth of more and more white collar workers. 

The growth of technology continued to create innovations for desks.  The introduction of the typewriter, telephone, and the computer all required designers to incorporate new ideas into their desk designs.

Typewriter Desk from Northwestern Furniture Co, courtesy of Collectors Weekly

Today we have many different designs and options for our executive desks.  From contemporary to traditional, to power accessories and standing desks, we have many different options to choose from for our modern day desks.  What is next for the desks of the future?  It is anyone's guess.  New technologies are sure to be created, and the redesigns of desks are likely to follow.

Kaysa Desk, Executive Desk Company