How to Write Emails That Build Trust and Get Results

Send us a text

In this episode…

How often do you hit send on an email without considering how your words might land with the recipient? 

Leadership communication carries emotional weight, and without the benefit of facial expressions or body language, your carefully crafted emails can easily be misinterpreted.

This episode tackles a deceptively simple yet powerful leadership practice.

When you're in a position of leadership, your words carry extra weight and get amplified throughout your team. 

That quick message about a missed deadline or that feedback on a project might seem straightforward to you, but how will it make your reader feel? Will they perceive your tone as supportive or critical? Clear or confusing?

The most effective leaders understand that clarity is kindness and can transform routine communication into a meaningful connection. Remember, you're not being bossy when you're specific about what you need - you're being helpful.

Every email you send as a leader is a "moment of truth" for your leadership style and values. By applying the simple practices in this episode of One Simple Thing, you can ensure your communications build trust rather than erode it. 

Curious?

🎧 Listen to this 5-minute tip on how to write emails that don’t just get read, but get results.

Connect with me on LinkedIn to share how this approach has transformed your workplace communications, and subscribe for more Leading People episodes of One Simple Thing that can make a significant difference in your leadership journey.

Follow

Leading People on LinkedIn

Leading People on FaceBook

Connect with Gerry

Website

LinkedIn

Wide Circle

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Leading People with me, gerry Marais,
this week.
It's One Simple Thing, where ineach episode, I share a quick,
actionable tip to help you bringout the best in yourself and
others.
One Simple Thing is created foryoung leaders, but hey, us

(00:28):
older folks can still learn athing or two.
Ask my dog.
He's learned a few new tricksrecently.
Here's a question for you.
You've written your subject line, you've structured your email,
but how will your message makethe other person feel Wait,
feelings In an email?

(00:51):
Yes, because leadershipcommunication is emotional and
how you communicate as a leaderoften gets amplified, whether
you're giving instructions,requesting input or pushing a
deadline.
How you come across as a leadermatters.
Tone can build trust or breakit.

(01:11):
And guess what?
Without facial expressions orbody language, email tone is
incredibly easy to misread,leading to misunderstandings,
and misunderstandings can leadto a lot of unintended
consequences.
So here's one simple thing youcan test out today Before you

(01:43):
hit send, read your messagethrough the eyes of the
recipient.
Ask yourself how might theyinterpret the way I've written
this email?
Am I being clear or vague?
Am I likely to come across aswarm or cold, patient or
impatient, confident oraggressive?

(02:03):
And here's a tip I give toleaders that I coach.
If you wouldn't say it that wayout loud, don't write it that
way.
Now let's finish by talkingabout calls to action.
Talking about calls to actionMost of the time, your email

(02:27):
isn't just there to inform.
It's there to move somethingforward.
But vague requests or norequests at all simply waste
time.
With no clear statement of whatyou expect, I as the reader am
left not knowing what to do.
Do you actually want me to takeaction?

(02:49):
Or perhaps you'd prefer that Iignore your email?
Then why bother writing to mein the first place?
What's my advice?
Lead clearly and kindlyno-transcript.

(03:11):
Can you confirm the budget by3pm Wednesday?
Please review the attacheddraft and send edits by Friday.
If you agree, I'll proceed withthe client proposal.
In fact, some people state upfront in the subject line what
they expect the reader to do.
For example, you could add aword or phrase before your

(03:34):
subject line, such as actionrequired, please review decision
needed.
Please comment save the dateurgent or for your information
only.
If this indeed is the intendedpurpose, this helps your reader

(03:59):
know not only what you expect,but also how and when to process
your email.
I'm sure you're getting thegist of this by now and remember
you're not being bossy, you'rebeing helpful.
You're not being bossy, you'rebeing helpful.
When it comes to emails,clarity is kindness and, by the

(04:21):
way, these same principles applyto how you communicate via
other messaging channels thatyou might be using at work.
So I recommend that you do afinal what's-in me the reader
check before you send your email.
Put yourself in your recipient'sshoes and ask yourself why does

(04:42):
this matter to them?
What might be on their mind?
How would it make it easier forthem to be able to action
something?
The moment you write with theirperspective in mind, your
message becomes more human, moremeaningful and more effective.

(05:02):
If you're a leader, use empathyand clarity in your emails.
Write like a real person, bespecific in what you ask for and
, above all, every message yousend is a moment of truth for
your leadership, and that'sanother One simple thing.

(05:28):
Thanks for tuning in.
Remember, small steps can leadto big changes.
Test out this one simple thingand notice how it transforms
your day.
Let me know how you get on.
Reach out on LinkedIn andconnect with me.
Mention the podcast and ifyou'd like to learn more One

(05:54):
Simple Things, then subscribe tothis podcast on your favorite
podcast channel and follow ourLinkedIn Leading People page.
In our next episode of OneSimple Thing, we'll explore
another easy way to be a greatleader by bringing out the best

(06:15):
in yourself and those around you.
And in between, you can checkout one of my longer
conversations with leadingpeople about yes, you've guessed
it leading people.
So until then, keep exploringand stay curious.