This week it seemed everywhere I turned I saw people writing down things I just wish they wouldn’t. The don’t-write-it-down rule absolutely applies in your business life as much as it does in your personal life. Are you angry with a supplier who has let you down? Well, tell them, but don’t fire off a nasty e-mail. Cranky with a difficult customer? NEVER write an unpleasant e-mail! If you must, pick up the phone to get into it. Or, in the case of a customer, don’t bother—it’s bad for business and it’s never worth it. Think of it this way: Before you write an e-mail to anyone, ask yourself if you would be comfortable finding out they had read this e-mail on the day their mother died. In other words, imagine the recipient is having a terrible time. Would your e-mail help or hinder? There aren’t many messages that can’t be delivered civilly and there are lots of ways to let someone know you mean business without being rude.

 

Same goes for using social media. It’s so tempting to fire off a quick missive in response to something we see online. And who hasn’t wanted to blast a company they are having trouble with via Twitter or Facebook? Not only is it bad karma —remember there is an actual person at the other end of your communication—but it’s also bad for your personal brand and for you. Before you write anything online ask yourself if you are comfortable having it attributed to you for all time.

 

In short—look before you leap, and think twice before you hit ‘send.’