Email Communication

I loved what Ian shared in this CNA commentary. Some really pertinent and accurate observations. However, there was one recommended suggestion that I personally struggle with: 'connect with users directly and ask them out for coffee.' ☕ 👩🏫 As someone who teaches final-year grad students (& post-grad students and working adults) about professional networking — covering situational awareness, conversation skills, and follow-up etiquette — I’ve shifted my approach somewhat in the last 18 years. A decade ago, I encouraged 'coffee meetings' as a way to connect. 💡 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐲? 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. My email inbox (both LinkedIn and work) fills weekly with kind coffee invites. If volume equaled consumption, I’d need five cups a day!!!! ❤️ 𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫: I deeply value helping others — it’s why I teach, mentor mothers, and run a social enterprise. But like many professionals juggling work, family, and commitments, scheduling 1:1 chats is often unrealistic. 📝 𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. When reaching out, consider these alternatives: 1️⃣ 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Explicitly say "I know you’re busy" or "Zero pressure to respond." 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜: Vague requests = higher mental load. State exactly what you want (e.g., "15 mins," "2-3 ideas on how to reach out to the sustainability industry"). 3️⃣ 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐭: "If this isn’t a good time, I completely understand!" 4️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: Offer help, resources, or genuine appreciation 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 5️⃣ 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦: Suggest text/voice/email instead of live chat/ coffee meeting (𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦!!!) ⏳ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭: We’re asking for someone’s time and insight—𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫. How we frame it matters. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖?

Your emails say more about you than you think. 👇 Here’s how to make every email polished and professional. Acknowledge Delays Gracefully ✘ "Sorry for the late response." ✔ "Thank you for your patience." Be Clear with Requests ✘ "Let me know what works for you." ✔ "Could you confirm if this works for you?" Own Your Mistakes ✘ "Sorry, I missed that." ✔ "Thanks for pointing that out—I’ll fix it right away." Close Emails Effectively ✘ "Let me know if you need anything." ✔ "Feel free to reach out if you have any questions." Make Follow-Ups Professional ✘ "Just following up on this." ✔ "When can I expect an update on this?" Show Respect for Their Time ✘ "Can we talk about this soon?" ✔ "Would you have 15 minutes this week to discuss this?" Be Confident, Not Tentative ✘ "I think we should consider…" ✔ "Here’s what I propose we do." Avoid Wordy Explanations ✘ "I spent a lot of time rewriting this to make it perfect." ✔ "This email outlines the key points—we can discuss more in person." Offer Solutions, Not Problems ✘ "I’m not sure what to do here." ✔ "Here’s what I suggest as the next step—what are your thoughts?" Set Clear Expectations ✘ "Does this make sense?" ✔ "Let me know if this aligns with your expectations." Be Polite When Asking for Help ✘ "I need this ASAP." ✔ "Would you be able to assist me with this by [specific deadline]?" Keep It Professional When Scheduling ✘ "What time works for you?" ✔ "Are you available at [specific time and date]? If not, let me know what works instead." Emails reflect your professionalism. Get them right, and you’ll always leave a great impression. ➞ Start today by refining your communication style. -- Think this could help someone? Share it to improve the way they communicate. ♻️

How to seek help or ask for a referral (a simple checklist): * Respect the other person’s time. Be clear and specific about your ask. Write in points, keep it crisp, and limit it to 2–3 clear questions. * Do your homework first. Check if they actually work in the industry or role you’re seeking help with. Go through their profile and recent posts. Many answers are already there. * Have a reason for them to help you. Most professional relationships are give-and-take. Offer value, even if it’s small: insights, research, help, or genuine appreciation. * If they offer a paid service, respect it. Book the 1:1 call instead of asking for free advice. It’s more efficient and shows seriousness. * Ask only what you couldn’t find yourself. Your message should show you’ve already Googled, read, and thought through the problem. * Sound confident, not desperate. You’re asking for guidance, not a rescue. The message should feel like: “I’ll get there anyway, but your help can help me get there faster.”

Nak minta tolong, tapi tak nak nampak mendesak atau create unnecessary stress kepada sipenerima? Well, this is how you do it. I received this message yesterday. It was short, thoughtful, and made my life easier, not harder. Let’s break down why it worked: 1. Got my name right: she introduced herself properly, mentioned where she was from, and let me know how she got my number. 2. Gave context: She didn’t assume I’d remember—she referred to the email she sent and offered to answer any questions. That’s helpful and professional. 3. Clear and specific ask: she told me exactly what she needed (headshot + bio), and when she needed it by. 4. Stated the reason for the deadline: she explained that her design team needed time before a website launch. And—she apologised for the rush, while still giving me space to say if I needed more time. 5. Messages were sent during business hours. She is mindful that I may have priorities to juggle. All of this took less than 10 lines of text. This is a great example of how to build bridges and get what you need—without stepping on anyone’s boundaries. Professional communication is not about being formal. It’s about being clear, thoughtful, and respectful of time. Normalise this kind of soft skill. p/s: the sender gave me permission to use her text messages. #SoftSkillsMatter #RespectInAction #ProfessionalEtiquette #StakeholderManagement #LeadershipStartsYoung #CommunicationIsKey

I need to say this. If the person on the other side has to decode your ask? You’ve already lost. 🫣 Earlier this week, I had 2 conversations that left me thinking… “Wait…what are you asking for?” One person wanted me to join their book club discussion. The other person wanted help promoting their nonprofit. But neither one actually asked. They hinted. They hoped. They wrote long, thoughtful messages. But the ask? Buried or missing. We do this ALL the time—especially at work. We want something. But instead of asking clearly, we… ➡️ Drop vague lines like “let me know your thoughts” ➡️ Ramble around the request ➡️ Hope they magically pick up on the hint Here’s what to say instead 👇 📌 Want feedback from your boss? Don’t say: “Happy to hear your thoughts.” Say: “Could I grab 15 minutes this week to get your feedback before I send this to [exec name]? I want to make sure it reflects the team’s impact.” 📌 Asking for an intro? Don’t say: “Sounds like you know them well!” Say: “Would you be open to connecting me with her? I’d love to ask how she transitioned into that role.” 📌 Want to be considered for a promotion? Don’t say: “I think I deserve a promotion.” Say: “I’d love to go up for Senior Manager next cycle. Could we talk about what specific outcomes I’d need to deliver this quarter to be in the running?” 📌 Want someone to review your resume or portfolio? Don’t say: “Would love any feedback!” Say: “Would you be open to giving a 5-minute gut check on my resume? I’m applying for [specific role], and I want to make sure it directly highlights my skillset.” 📌 Want to shadow someone? Don’t say: “Would love to learn more about what you do.” Say: “I’m working on improving my strategic thinking. Could I sit in on one of your roadmap meetings next month?” Clarity = kindness. Specificity = confidence. A clear ask = a higher chance of yes. ✅ ♻️ If you found this post helpful, repost it to your network to help others ask for what they want. Follow me, Jenny Wood, for more unconventional business and career tips.

Don’t DM people in your network just saying help me get a job. Don’t reach out asking if a recruiter is hiring and what would you would be a fit for. TELL them what reqs they have that you have skills for. That’s not their job. Don’t ask a hiring manager if you can “pick their brain” ewwww Don’t send a 4 page narrative on your life and career story and expect a response. DO…. Reach out with a personal email that’s clear, concise and shows that you know something about the person/company/job and can relate it to YOU. DO have specific jobs, titles, skills in mind and continue to discuss those DO send a note and ask about a specific opportunity. DO give 2 or 3 lines about who you are, and your ideal job. DO reach out to people who have similar jobs or hiring managers at companies who may not be hiring and explain you’d like to work for them or do what they do, and would like 20 minutes DO prepare for networking sessions like you would an interview and some with specific asks, specific questions, or specific updates. Show your value. Be bold. But don’t take the lazy way Be a good human

Speaking of horror stories... let's talk about what's really killing your networking emails (Halloween seemed like the perfect time to share these horrors) Every networking email either opens doors or nails them shut. Here are the five deadly sins that turn potential connections into ghost stories: 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻 #𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 Nobody wants their calendar drained by vague meeting requests. Your ask should be crystal clear and time-bound: - Cursed approach: "Can we grab coffee to chat about your career?" - Blessed version: "I have 3 specific questions about your career pivot to tech. Could I have 15 minutes of your time this week?" Tip: The 5-Second Rule: If you can't explain your ask in 5 seconds, it's already too long. 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻 #𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 Dropping into someone's inbox begging for help is the fastest way to get ghosted. Build value before making asks: - Cursed approach: "I really need your help landing a job at your company!" - Blessed version: "I admire your work at XYZ Corp, particularly [specific blog post or accomplishment]. I'd LOVE to ask you...[specific question]" Tip: Always lead with genuine interest in their work, not your immediate needs. 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻 #𝟯: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 "Pick your brain" emails are the workplace equivalent of spam. Be specific about what you want to learn: - Cursed approach: "Can I pick your brain about the industry?" - Blessed version: "I'm weighing roles in marketing vs. sales. Given your experience, which would you recommend for someone starting out?" Specific questions get specific answers. Vague ones get ignored. 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻 #𝟰: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 Nobody wants to read a soliloquy about your needs. Split your message wisely: - 80% about their insights/work - 20% about your ask - Cursed approach: "I need career advice. When can we talk?" - Blessed version: "Your talk on [specific point] was enlightening. I'd love to hear more about that insight." Show you've done your homework before asking for their time. 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻 #𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 The cardinal sin of networking: vanishing after receiving help. Don't let your follow-up turn into a ghost story: - Within 24 hours: Send a thank you - Later: Update them on how their advice helped --- P.S. happy halloween! Repost this so it stops someone from making one of these mistakes today (plus it's an easy way for you to bookmark this post) I write no-BS, practical career strategy here on LinkedIn. Follow me Rohan Mahtani for an easy way to stay motivated and keep your career on track.

How I Ask For Help Without Feeling Incompetent as an Amazon Program Manager There’s a myth in tech: If you’re strong, you figure it out yourself. But here’s what I’ve learned: Strong leaders ask for help early—not late. Here’s how I do it without losing credibility: 1️⃣ I define the ask clearly Not “Can you help?” I say: “I need 30 minutes to walk through risk scenarios before our next launch decision.” Specificity = respect for their time. 2️⃣ I share what I’ve tried first “I’ve spoken with X, reviewed Y, and scoped Z—but I’m stuck on tradeoffs.” This shows I’m not offloading. I’m escalating thoughtfully. 3️⃣ I phrase it as partnership—not a lifeline “I could use your brain on this.” “Would love your perspective before I move forward.” It invites collaboration—not rescue. 4️⃣ I always close the loop afterward I say: “Thanks again—your input helped us do X.” It builds goodwill. And makes them more likely to help next time. The truth? Asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you effective. How do you ask for support without feeling like a burden?