Comments on: How do I get my boss to respond to my e-mails? Guide to communicating with executives.

By: My boss does not answer my e-mails! What do I do?

My boss does not answer my e-mails! What do I do? — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:50:58 +0000

[...] the method of delivery encourages the receiver’s response. I have already written an article on how to write e-mails to your boss or an executive, but now want to focus on a different angle, because many times it is not the message, but in the [...]

By: Apolinaras Sinkevicius

Apolinaras Sinkevicius — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:32:09 +0000

Dave,
My suggestions are more focused for the startup world. With the speed of things, I need to know what is the monetary impact of your message, and I want to have an option of asking you for more details. Many time we get novels instead of e-mail messages. If I hired right, I know they did all the thinking and I can trust their judgment.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:51:39 +0000

Everything through bullet point 3 was terrific. The last two were not compelling to me – not everything is about money (#4) and bosses shouldn’t have to ask for more info (#5).

A good employee will develop a sense of the “right” amount of info and include it where it belongs, either in the subject line, the top of the message, the bottom of the message, an attachment, or in a written memo.

An issue needing senior management’s attention for a decision should not be assumed to be Blackberry-readable.

My suggestions for a good decision memo (in email or other form):

1. subject: decision needed for replacement of backup system

2: intro: as we discussed on 10 September, my staff has researched options to replace the soon-to-be-obsolete backup system. I recommend Advantage Systems, and present my team’s reasoning below.

As the proposal pricing we negotiated with the preferred vendor is good for only 30 days, I would appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions not covered below by 5 October.

3: Recommendation … for these reasons.

4: Other options with pros and cons.

5: Additional resources may be found at the vendors’ websites and at these equipment review sites at these addresses.

6: I didn’t write this professional decision memo solely because my annual review is overdue by seven weeks.
.-= Dave´s last blog .. =-.

By: Gregory Y

Gregory Y — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:59:55 +0000

Thank you. Excellent, concise and practical advice. Following will save me hours of time writing and a lot of aggravation waiting for response.Gregory Y’s last blog post..Espresso Yourself