Leadership / Management Tip

Among the biggest mistakes novice leaders make is to respond to an email hastily when they are angry, upset, or hurt by someone's rude, insensitive, belligerent, offensive, or grossly incorrect statements. When you receive such emails, take your time and read the email carefully. Don't make any assumptions about what is not written in the email (i.e., don't read between the lines). Analyze the statements based on facts and in the largest context possible, ensuring that your ego, feelings, and emotions are not a part of this analysis. As a leader, your personal ego, feelings, and emotions must never enter the decision-making process. Always remove your ego and emotions from the issue being considered. Take your time, respond in the most professional manner possible, and focus on the issue that needs resolution. Avoid placing blame on any one person, and rather offer a solution to resolve the situation.

Remember that there are those who take pride in getting a rise out of the leader/manager. Don't fall in their trap and never stoop to their level. These individuals have very little to lose. You, as the leader, and with immense institutional responsibility, have a great deal to jeopardize personally, professionally, and on behalf of your unit and organization. Always remain professional, focus on resolving the issue and not on the person(s) involved, take the high road, and eliminate your own ego, emotions, and feelings from the situation.

Finally, assume that any and all emails you send will be shared with others. Think about what could be placed on the front page by your local and national news outlets. Moreover, remember that what you say or write in an email can be discoverable in a lawsuit. As a leader, you must never act in a manner that is unprofessional, offensive, harassing, or retaliatory. Be careful, thoughtful, and intentional about everything that you say, write, and do.