My boss in Denver pointed out I was overcomplicating every client email

He pulled me aside after a meeting and said, 'You're writing novels when a postcard will do.' I started cutting my emails down to three bullet points max, no extra words. My reply rate went up by half in a month. Anyone else get told they talk too much in writing?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_jennifer2mo ago

Honestly, the three bullet point rule is a great start, but it can backfire. I tried that and my boss said my emails felt robotic and cold. The trick isn't just to be short, it's to be clear. Sometimes you need a full sentence or two to explain a tricky point. Cutting out the extra fluff is key, but don't strip out the basic politeness.

phoenixw112mo ago

Yeah, I was all about the bullets until a client said the same thing.

karen3612mo ago

Ugh, totally. I switched to just bolding the key parts in a normal paragraph. Keeps it clear but way less like a robot wrote it.

sean_cooper581mo ago

Used to be the guy who thought longer emails meant I was being thorough. Took a client straight up telling me they stopped reading halfway through to finally get it. Now I just pretend every email is a text to a busy friend who'll skim it anyway.