Howdy ,
Once upon a time, one of my bosses wondered why I usually write out everyone's name in the "Dear xxx" part of my emails.
He said I could have easily just written "Dear All, " which would save me time.
My view?
Save me time - it will. But get the attention of the people I need to act on my email - probably won't.
Why?
Because until you make the email personal, it may not get the attention it needs from your audience. And nothing gets more personal than people's names.
According to Venngage, on average, a person, particularly in a professional setting, will receive a whopping 121 emails per day. When you add phone calls, meetings, I-just-stopped-by-at-your-desk-to-ask-you-this-question moments…you get the picture. You are working in a focus-stealing work zone.
That's why I put people's names on my emails. When people see their name - it gets their attention. "This is for me" is the subliminal message their brain gets.
What if you are writing the email to a large group?
You will have to choose your secret sauce to do that.
In one of the groups I lead, which comprises different departments, I had them choose a group name. They chose a fun name. And that is the name I use when I send emails to the group.
I use their department as a name rider for teams I don't have such a personal collection with. "Dear friends in the Accounting Department" is a good way for me to go.
But you will not get me using "Dear All."
You choose your merry-go-dance.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
Tola Akinsulire
I am a Workplace Multiplier
0 comments