Let Me Be Clear (And So Can You)
Make your emails faster to write, easier to read, and clear as crystal.
I was working with a team member who was struggling with his email communications. Coming from a non-corporate background, he kept receiving negative feedback about how he “spoke” in emails. I offered to help, sharing that I’d faced the same challenge in the past. I asked him what success would look like for him, and his answer was brilliant: “When I can write an email to a stakeholder without getting AI to do most of it for me.”
That response told me two things. First, it was a clear and measurable indicator of success. Second, it showed he was serious about improving—he had already identified a workaround while searching for a solution. I love working with people who actively look for solutions.
It took me years to learn how to write emails that are clear and, most of the time, unambiguous. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I’ve reached a point where I can confidently help others. In fact, I’ve even noticed colleagues adopting elements of my email style!
To make the process easier, I’ve written a guide to help you master clear, concise, and effective email communication. Here’s what this guide will help you achieve:
Write emails faster and with less effort.
Make your emails easier for others to read.
Ensure your messages are clear and get straight to the point.
In the guide we’ll focus on four key habits:
Write one sentence per line.
Keep sentences simple.
Use as few lines as possible.
Stick to one topic per email.
For example, instead of writing this:
I wanted to reach out and let you know that I’ve completed the presentation slides for next week’s meeting. I’ve included all the points we discussed last time, such as the sales performance overview, the customer feedback summary, and the upcoming product launches. Additionally, I added a couple of new slides to address the points that came up in yesterday’s email thread, and I think they’ll be useful for the discussion. Please let me know if there’s anything else you’d like me to include or adjust before the meeting.
You can write this:
I’ve completed the presentation slides for next week’s meeting.
I’ve included all discussed points and new items from yesterday’s email.
Let me know if there’s anything to adjust or add.
This simple shift makes emails faster to write, easier to read, and more effective overall.
For a deeper dive, download and check out our guide: How to Write Better Work Emails.
And if you want to be a truly subversive manager, share this with someone who needs it.