5 Reasons Why People Ignore Emails

“Didn’t you read the email?”

We’ve all been there, whether we’re the one who didn’t read the message or the one who got ignored by colleagues. However, if people frequently disregard your emails, the problem may have something to do with the way you are communicating.

Have you committed blunders that make co-workers tune you out? Here are some reasons why others might be giving your emails the cold shoulder:

1. You write too many emails.
Email is an amazingly convenient medium, but it might not be appropriate for all situations. If you needlessly email colleagues, they will soon learn to ignore you. The same can occur if you CC too many people. Those individuals who do not need to be kept in the loop may also start skipping your messages altogether.



2. Your emails are too long.
Email recipients are more likely to skim—and miss important information—if they see a huge essay waiting for them in their inbox. Try to use simple, short sentences, and avoid large blocks of text by breaking up your message into shorter paragraphs or bullets. (However, bullet lists cease to be useful if they become too long.)

3. Your emails need editing.
Do typos, incomplete thoughts, and incorrect grammar plague your emails? If so, the recipient has to use more time and energy deciphering what you wrote. Again, no one wants to spend an eternity with their email, so proofread even the shortest memos before you hit “Send.” It will also spare you some embarrassment.

4. Your emails need rewriting.
It’s not always mechanics that discourage people from reading your messages. When you proof your email, ask yourself if you are making these mistakes:

• Am I repeating myself? What can I delete?
• Am I getting off-topic?
• Am I forgetting essential details? Use concrete numbers and specifics, instead of vague adjectives (e.g., “due in seven days” as opposed to “due in a few days”). More often than not, you will end up with a shorter email when you’re done with revisions.

5. Your colleagues are busy.
This is one of the most common reasons why people do not read email—or, at least, thoroughly. Make it easier on your co-workers by following the steps outlined above, and remember that there are other ways to communicate. Pick up the phone, schedule a meeting, or just drop by a colleague’s workspace to talk.

--Joanna Kim

Joanna Kim is a Writer/Content Strategist for HRI.