Professionalism
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Draft all work emails assuming the CEO, any employee, or the public might read them.
It sets you up for success.
6 people, independently
Handle strong emotions, such as anger or compliments, in person or over the phone rather than in email.
There is no good reason to put these sorts of things in writing.
one person who lived it
CC the person you mention in an email when quoting them or discussing their work.
It prevents he-said/she-said disputes.
one person who lived it
If someone is talked over in a meeting, check back with them later by referencing what they were saying.
The person will feel seen and appreciate it.
one person who lived it
Print copies of critical emails or forward them to your personal email account, provided it does not violate company policy, to retain access if you are fired or locked out.
You may lose access to work emails upon termination.
- Ensure this action does not violate company policy.
2 people, independently
Acknowledge that clients have the right to be angry if you fail to deliver the service they hired you for.
You did not deliver the agreed-upon service.
one person who lived it
If you are in an entry-level role, try wearing professional attire like a suit to signal ambition, even if it invites teasing from coworkers.
One person reported that dressing the part led to being noticed by senior leadership who had previously ignored them.
- You may endure constant ribbing from coworkers.
one person who lived it
If required to CC a micromanaging supervisor on every email, try stopping for most non-critical emails while keeping them on super important ones.
One person reported this worked for them, though they noted it may not work for everyone.
- This approach may not work for everyone.
one person who lived it
Do not arrive at meetings holding food or drinks purchased on the way.
It is considered rude and makes you appear unprofessional.
one person who lived it
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Avoid joining in with blame-throwing conversations once they start.
It's hard to retract your statements.
one person who lived it
Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your custom domain email to prevent messages from being marked as spam.
Improper configuration can cause some services to send emails straight to spam, which has cost one person business.
one person who lived it
Avoid venting or shit-talking coworkers in workplace chats or emails; do it in person if necessary.
Colleagues may forward rants to management.
one person who lived it
Cite poor memory as the reason for requesting explicit written instructions for tasks; unethical or shady requests are often dropped when this is done.
Requesters of shady tasks usually 'forget' to send the email or say 'never mind'.
one person who lived it
BCC upper management if you need to inform them of an issue without appearing to snitch.
Allows you to inform upper management without looking like a twat.
one person who lived it
Avoid adding words like 'contact' or 'email' before your name in your email address if your full name is taken, as this requires constant explanation.
One person found they had to explicitly explain that the word was part of the address every single time.
one person who lived it
If someone makes a sexual joke at work, give them a bored look and immediately follow up with a work-related question.
This combination can communicate your disapproval.
one person who lived it
Avoid crying in front of coworkers, bosses, or people you aren't close with during work issues or social frustrations.
It is rarely a good thing
one person who lived it
When explaining lateness, say 'I didn't allow enough time for traffic' rather than blaming bad traffic to convey responsibility.
It conveys the same information about traffic conditions but frames the fault correctly depending on how often you are late.
2 people, independently
Avoid CCing managers on routine emails to coworkers, especially for minor issues.
It is passive-aggressive, annoying, and lessens the impact of CCing managers for serious problems; it is more professional to deal directly with the person first.
one person who lived it
Lead with your thesis at the very beginning of an email, then justify it.
Never put justifications before your premise.
one person who lived it
Bring an extra shirt to work and change halfway through the day to stay fresh.
one person who lived it
Create a 'KUDOS' folder to save emails containing praise from colleagues or clients.
It serves as a reminder of your competence, counteracting the tendency to remember negative events more easily than positive ones.
one person who lived it
Never use 'Reply All' to irrelevant mass emails sent to large groups or entire companies.
Perpetuating threads can lead to severe consequences, including termination.
one person who lived it
Avoid using GoDaddy for domain registration if you oppose SOPA or focus on freedom of expression.
They support SOPA.
2 people, independently
Apologize sincerely and reschedule appointments when you make a scheduling error.
Mature professionals acknowledge fault and redress harm.
one person who lived it
Assume bosses can read everything typed on company-owned devices.
Anything typed on such devices belongs to the company.
one person who lived it
Display credibility and professionalism by keeping information confidential and giving credit where due.
This translates into trust, which is a valuable commodity.
one person who lived it
Do not let your domain name ownership lapse, as bad actors may buy it and compromise accounts via email-based two-factor authentication or magic links.
one person who lived it
Leave obnoxiously early to ensure you are never late, especially for high-stakes events like job interviews.
one person who lived it
Send a summary email after verbal discussions to clarify understanding and request corrections.
4 people, independently
Use informal greetings for peers or subordinates, but use formal greetings for superiors.
Formality is required when speaking to superiors.
one person who lived it