Power Play: Send a great email

Power Players send the best emails this side of the information superhighway. Whether it’s pith that’s required or a cracking one-liner, Power Players always get it right before hitting send.

You know you’re in the presence of greatness if someone has a Power Player’s email printed out and stuck on the wall. The usual sign is that they write their emails in headlines in headlines that are smart, wry, funny and warm. 

If email scares you or if you shy away from the medium, start practising now. Get comfortable in the medium. Send a few emails to yourself and give them the overnight test – see how they read in the morning.

So much great stuff can be communicated in an email and so few of us are talented at them.

Understand what you communicate in tone and personality when you send one.

Here’s one more thing: ditch the War and Peace-style epic emails and get lean with the language. It will elevate you from a ‘potential’ to a ‘sure thing’ Power Player.

The story

Best email I ever got from a Power Player? An email containing one word: ‘Freak’.

I emailed an important document at 3am that I had written in one night, and that was the response I received. It was perfect, warm and a little bit admiring.

Power Players keep the emails short and funny.