Most execs have sent e-mails to the wrong person
October 29, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Communication, HR Tech, In this week's e-newsletter - Tech, Special Report - Tech
According to a recent survey, most executives have committed a common e-mail blunder, with results ranging from embarrassment to breaches of employees’ privacy.
The majority (78%) of execs have mistakenly sent an e-mail to the wrong address, according to a survey of marketing executives by The Creative Group, an advertising and marketing staffing firm.
The respondents also reported the biggest e-mail gaffes they’ve ever seen — or made — at work, including:
- sending someone’s salary information to the entire company
- giving a job offer to the wrong person
- writing a nasty comment about a supervisor, then accidentally sending it to said supervisor
- calling a co-worker an “idiot” to the entire company
- accidentally sending an internal memo about “restroom etiquette” to a potential client.
The Creative Group offers these tips for avoiding e-mail embarrassment:
- Don’t multi-task while writing important e-mail messages. Give writing your undivided attention.
- Keep the “To:” box blank until the end, then careful choose the distribution list.
- Review it on a big screen when you can, instead of sending an important message from a smartphone or other hand-held device.
- Never send an e-mail when you’re angry. You can try writing, but wait until you’ve calmed down to send it.
Tags: blunders, e-mail, The Creative Group
November 4th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
RE: “Never send an e-mail when you’re angry. You can try writing, but wait until you’ve calmed down to send it.”
This is good advice for you hotheads out there.
Where were you when I needed this advice?! Fifteen years ago I flamed an exec. for her missing a critical deadline in the annual budgeting process. She had held up the whole organization’s process in a material and harmful way. But little did I know that this person was exempt from following budget development and deadline requirements at the expense of the whole organization. I had never flamed anyone at that point. And needless to say never did I again. Let’s just say I learned a lesson the hard way – in the checkbook and on the career path. I did not get the promotion I was on track for because I behaved like a diva instead of behaving like a compassionate and measured professional and then writing an even-handed note to the powerful exec.
I still cringe fifteen years later. My mistake cost me tens of thousands per year and delayed my career progress because I had hidden behind a wall of electronic anger and had not taken a deep breath before issuing the offending e-mail. E-mails are forever. The world’s dangerous enough without aiming the gun at yourself.
Peace Be with You All
November 10th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Good post Mark. Your passionate words of experience are far more poignant than what’s contained in this otherwise fine article.