How to use email to save your job

Mike Song offers five must do email strategies to keep the pink slip out of your inbox. He is a top email efficiency and etiquette expert and lead author of the bestselling book, The Hamster Revolution: How to Manage Your Email Before It Manages You.

1. Avoid fluffy messages and weapons of mass distribution
Make sure every message is tied to a business priority in order to
build your reputation as a can do colleague. Avoid unnecessary use of
reply to all, cc, and large distribution lists which can annoy
associates already struggling with overflowing inboxes.

2. Strengthen the subject
Nothing frustrates professionals more than having to decode a short,
vague, wimpy subject line. Be specific and signal that you are a doer
by preceding each title with a one word category like Action: Info: or
Request.

3. Put the bottom line up front (BLUF)
People aren't reading your email -- they're scanning it. Put your
bottom line up front -- preferably in a single clear sentence -- and
help build instant recognition for recipients.

4. Stop playing ping-pong
When an email thread ping-pongs back and forth more than four times it
shows that you're too lazy to pick up the phone and cut to the chase.
Save time and look more professional by using live communication to
resolve messy problems.

5. Don't divide the team
That witty email could offend the guy or gal in charge of thinning the
herd. Avoid emailing divisive jokes, chain messages, and political
rants. When the economic seas get rough -- inappropriate emailers get
tossed overboard.