email can be a pretty phenomenal communication tool all by itself. But, like any form of communication, you really begin to realise the true power of the tool if you combine it with all of your other methods of communication. Just as music is great just to hear, it’s ten times more powerful to see it and feel it performed as well as to hear it.
If you need to speak to someone about an important matter, consider sending a short email earlier in the day. This way the email is going to prompt the person about your upcoming call as well as provide them some type of outline as to the purpose of your call.
For example:
Good morning Bob.
I trust your day is going well. I wanted to send a short email to ask if we could catch up on the telephone around 3pm this afternoon?
I need to discuss the Jones project and want to get your feedback on two items:
- Pricing
- Delivery time
Could you get back to me by email before 12 o’clock to confirm that 3pm will be okay for a telephone catch up.
Kind regards…
PAUL
While I could phone Bob totally out of the blue at three o’clock, I think you will agree that it is far more professional to give him some notice in the event that he will not be available at 3pm.
