ETIQUETTE @ EMAIL!!!

As business communication goes online,Mithila Mehta outlines basic email etiquette

Email is increasingly becoming the preferred medium for business communication thanks to its simplicity,ability to garner quick responses and convenience.Even so,age-old rules of courtesy and etiquette remain relevant to this new communication channel.Good manners never go out of style,and hence it is important to mind your email etiquette as well.
"Good mail etiquette creates a favourable impression of the sender.In any case,which employer wants an employee who fails to exhibit basic courtesy Your onscreen persona is a direct extension of your real self.So mind every word you type,"explains client servicing executive Pratham Verma.An email once sent can never be retrieved.Worse,it is a form of permanent record.So follow these basic email etiquette outlines and save yourself the blushes!

CONCISE,NOT CURT :
The first rule of courtesy which you learn in kindergarten still holds true.Mind you Ps and Qs,even on email.Don't hesitate to use please when you require a favour,and to thank people after,if don't want to come across as bossy,ungrateful or demanding.
When writing an email,walking the tightrope between brevity and expressiveness is often challenging.Many fall prey to common mistake of rambling on endlessly."Business communication should be crisp and clear.Say what you must directly.Long,confused emails often go unread or are not taken seriously,"says corporate lawyer Neville Billimoria.
At the same time,getting to the point too quickly can be considered rude.Do spend a sentence or two on the social niceties.Remember,it is possible to be concise without being downright curt."If you are emailing someone for the first time,do introduce yourself.For others whom you email occasionally,insert a sentence asking about the other person's
affairs.General social rules of politeness are still golden,"reveals financial analyst Rashi Sanghvi.

DETAILS,DETAILS:
The devil is in the details.Incorrect spellings and poor grammar are a definite no-no in business communication."Bad spellings create a very negative impression of the sender.If the sender cannot even spell basic words correctly,how can he/ she be entrusted with larger tasks"opines Billimoria.Further,incorrect grammar can also mean that the email is misunderstood by the receiver.The solution is simple.Always perform a spell check on emails before sending them.Proofreading (once,or multiple times depending on the importance of the email) is also a must.

 

Ahmedabad Mirror (Mon, 28-06-2010).

Copyright © 2010 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Utilise Feedback...

Be open to different perspectives'Practice listening Be objective Avoid mind reading Keep an emotional balance Focus on facts Take both praise and criticism in your stride ACTING ON FEEDBACK Accept productive feedback : If it is regarding specific behaviour or instance then accepting feedback will prove to be useful.For example,your colleague suggests that you smile while interacting with customers at help desk;it will improve your conduct at work. Assess feedback: Check the quality of the feedback.Is it genuine or abusive Ask yourself if there is any truth in it before responding. Be rational: It is tough to receive feedback,but do not sulk or withdraw from the person giving the feedback.Take time out,boost your self-esteem by meeting friends,or engage in an activity you are good at. Opt to use feedback: If the feedback allows you to grow and develop as a person,at work or personally,it's a gift.However if it is futile,ignore it.Finally,it is your decision on how to act upon the feedback. Interact with feedback giver/s: Set a time and place to discuss the feedback.Openly share your views on the feedback.Ask for guidance on how to progress.Discuss potential options and resolutions. Plan changes according to feedback: Be clear on what needs to be done differently.In case there are numerous things,prioritise. Commit to changes: Select your actions and follow up on them with specific dates.This will build an environment of trust and confidence at work. Thank the feedback giver : If the feedback has helped you thank the giver sincerely and express your appreciation. SIGNING OFF A key aspect to bear in mind is the fact t2hat feedback is 'one opinion coming from another individual's unique perspective'.It is up to you to consider it thoughtfully,evaluate it with other feedback you have received and do something constructive with it.Remember,it is impossible for us to see ourselves as others see us,but very important that we don't allow these blind spots to endanger wonderful opportunities.     Courtesy By Times Appointments, Ahmedabad Mirror, Fri, 25-06-2010 Copyright © 2010 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

DISAGREE W I T H O U T B E I N GDISAGREEABLE...

While voicing your disagreement in an informal setting could lead to healthy debate,doing the same in a professional environment,specially with your boss could be tricky,finds Reneta Kripalani

Barack Obama stated,"Yes,We can disagree without being disagreeable."This simple statement would be a lot simpler if we simply practiced it! Easier said than done right Disagreements among colleagues are common at a workplace,however,a disagreement with your boss could put you in a sticky situation.Kavya Somaiya,Assistant Manager in a media firm explains,"At work,you mee people from diverse backgrounds and varied temperaments.Thus,when you work as a team,there is bound to be friction.However,it's important to respect each individual,especially your boss,and work towards the growth of the company."She further adds,"Your boss is where s/he is due to his/her experience and expertise.Thus,if you disagree with your boss,it's best to disagree without being disagreeable.That way,you can maintain your relationship,which is critical."Rahul Arora,a financial planner,adds,"A boss can be a good mentor and do wonders for your career;thus you would not want to offend him/her without due reason."
Listed below are a few pointers on how to tide through the situation: To begin with,before putting forth your disagreement,it is important to build a powerful case.Be a solution provider rather than a problem maker."Do your homework well before you voice your disagreement.After all you don't want to look foolish and juvenile if asked to justify your idea,"feels Somaiya."Also,be open to the idea that you may be wrong,"adds Arora.

"Never voice a disagreement with your boss in public,"suggests Devika Gidwani,Country Head India,HRD Antwerp.

Avoid misunderstandings and communication gaps: "When voicing your disagreement with your boss,you could use a phrase like,'If we look at the situation in this way,it could benefit us in this way.What do you think'It helps to show your boss the advantages of looking at the situation from your perspective,rather than focusing on the disagreement,"feels Devika.Sonal Kuiya,Manager Ad Sales,Maxim,seconds the idea and further adds,,"Having said this,leave the final decision to your boss.It's best not to push it too far.S/he takes the call at the end of the day."
If you choose to disagree,never use phrases like,"It has never worked in the past" or "This idea did fail in the past".Plan your words well.You would not want to lead into a heated argument."Keep your ego aside.Such situations are not about individuals,they are about the bigger picture,"feels Somaiya,"Also,know that you cannot always win."During the course of the conversation,refrain from using "I" too often.Using "we" would sound more from a team perspective rather than individualistic."Today,bosses are more open to ideas as long as it's in the best interest of the product,"adds Kuiya."Leadership today has become more participative than authoritative,"feels Kavya."A good team lead will always listen to counter arguments.However,agreeing or disagreeing depends on a number of factors,including higher authorities,"explains Sandeep Ayyer,Senior Manager,Business Solutions and Support,In-Solutions Global Pvt Ltd.Arora mentions,"Big ideas are born out of brainstorms and disagreements;so do not shy away from expressing your disagreement if you feel strongly about it.Your boss will appreciate that you have an opinion,however,make sure you do not come on too strongly.""At the end of the day,a boss is a 'boss'.It is important to respect his/her authority and e x p e r i e n c e.Probably s/he could have a perspective that cannot be shareed.Else,s/he could could also be under some pressure,"asserts Arora.Arora rightly states,"You and your boss are working towards the growth of the company.It is important to maintain a healthy relationship for peaceful co-existence and work well together.Thus,handle a disagreement with professionalism and do not take it personally."Kavya signs off saying,"Do not let it become a clash of egos."

 

 

Courtesy: Ahmedabad Mirror (Mon, 14-06-2010)

Copyright © 2010 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

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India tops the list of Hirers...!!!

The latest quarterly survey from Manpower, a global employment-services company, shows that as far as the employment outlook goes, India tops the world charts. At least relative to the rest of the world, employers in India seem to be quite a bullish lot. This is also a reflection perhaps of the growth prospects that the companies in the country see. After all, companies will only look to hire if the anticipate a higher growth in business going forward.

 

Courtesy by: The 5 Minute Wrapup (www.equitymaster.com)

 

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Employee Motivation Cash or Non Cash Incentives.

Human capital was considered just one of the factors affecting industrial production.  However, this thought has gone under change in the globalised world, where focus is much more now on human capital. Survival of organization is dependent of its motivated workforce. Therefore motivation and employee welfare are center point of many research worldwide.  Research has divided employee motivation on cash and non- cash incentives.  Dilemma for organization is to discover which type of incentive will propel organization to the next level.

Cash incentives are in form of pay hikes, bonus, paid vacation etc. Cash incentive is tangible asset motivating employee to achieve desire result or performance. It keeps employee on their toes knowing that a solid performance would ensure ample of monetary benefits. Research shows that in order to receive cash incentive employee may sometime use un- ethical business practice. This could compromise brand as well as existence of organization.  Also un-equal distribution of cash incentive among the same team could trigger tension among team-member. This sort of tension would create problem for organization in future. Also cash incentive could give rise to a stand- off for organization in difficult economic times, which is deciding whether to reward employee or the share holder.

Non- cash incentives are in form flexible work hours, acknowledgement of good work in front of colleagues, better work environment. Research shows that non-cash incentive has psychological effects; it helps in improving morale of the work force. Flexible work hours for single parent show compassion on part of organization, this gesture would have positive impact on employee.  However there could be a problem if employee compares non-cash incentive with cash incentive, as non-cash incentive is not economically measurable.  Which leads to question what is it that motivates employees cash or non- cash incentive?

 Answer may sound diplomatic, but the right solution may depend upon age of employee, his personal aspirations, stage of her career etc. A fresh graduate always aspire for rise in her salary in order to use to full economical value of cash incentive. But mature employee is much more concerned with quality of work, flexi work hours.  Therefore solution lies in a customized incentive program which balances both non cash and cash benefits.