Before You Hit Send: Still Relevant!

"Before You Hit Send" is like a hilarious best friend who's also determined to save your career. I read this book back in 2017 as part of my PD Fall reading list and would have never expected to still be finding nuggets of wisdom to use in my daily correspondence. As GenZ enters the workforce, long emails may become a thing of the past; they understand the consequences of oversharing more so than the older generations. However, GenXers and Millennials are still leading the workforce and oh do they like to share! 

Review: Before You Hit Send

Warning: Reading this article may cause you to buy the book, or it may cause an uncontrollable urge to proofread everything twice and laugh at your former digital disasters! 

In his profound wisdom, Emerson Eggerichs dons a coach’s cap, providing the kind of guidance that makes you second-guess your every LOL reaction to emails—especially when those witticisms boomerang back from your boss! The book has plenty of witty advice that will leave you cackling as you recognize just how many email landmines you're deftly avoiding. Here's a little taste of the content, to pique your interest.

As you start reading the book, you will inevitably think of your mother shouting “don’t forget your manners!!!” (extra exclamation points because I had a Puertorrican mother). Yes, you have been emailing since aol was a thing and hotmail was cool but, have you transferred your good manners to your email etiquette? The author invites you to answer these questions before you hit send:

Is it True?

Just like the oath you take on the witness stand, it is imperative that your email states only the truth. Any doubt you may have should be enough reason to avoid mentioning a statement. Remember what is at the heart of communicating what is true: there could be multiple versions of the truth. So, use the golden rule of true communication: “am I about to communicate unto others in the way I would want others to communicate unto me?

Is it Kind?

People may hear your words of truth, but they FEEL your words of kindness. As you review your email, ask yourself; are my words respectful even if their words were not? Never give others the power of making your heart to be unkind and disrespectful. The case for civility and respect for opposing perspectives is losing terrain due to the current state of our political environment. We ought to be better.

Is it Necessary?

My mother used to say “you are the owner of the words you keep inside and a slave of the ones you let slip through your mouth.” If you are speaking for the voiceless, ask yourself “is this the right time to say something”. Most times, it is. When we talk about social justice, it is imperative that we say something. But expressing via email may lead to misrepresentation and confusion.  Beware of careless words in the heat of the moment. If it is not necessary for the time being, do not include it, ask for a face to face conversation. 

Is it Clear?

Publication coach Daphne Gray-Grant says that the average person speaks about 125-150 words per minute. How many of those words can actually make it to an email? I know I am guilty of this; my brain goes so fast, thinking about one thought after another, that I missed a word in the middle (of) the sentence! Of course, my brain thought about it but my fingers were not typing fast enough. Reviewing what I write is a strict rule I follow; not just for the comedic moment, but because emails are part of my branding. To ensure my emails are clear in content and intentionality, I like to use bullet points to explain steps, and a bold font for my “ask”. 

I believe most of our issues with emails could be solved by reading emails in full before responding, or writing shorter emails. But if that is impossible for you, follow the advice above, or read the book! I can assure you that by the end, the book will leave you, not just a better emailer but it will transform you into a communication ninja, and your emails will emerge sharper, funnier, and professional enough to earn a small round of applause from your recipients. I’ll be clapping for you too!

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