It happens to us all - we receive a rude email and we get angry! Easy enough to deal with in your own language, but what about in English? When at work, it is important to keep things cool because you represent your company, and using the wrong words can hurt future business and also your reputation. So instead of responding to a rude email in anger, what can you do?1. Do Not Answer Immediately
Take time away from the message if there's not an urgent response deadline. Sleep on it and think about how to react in a way that will show that you are professional. If you need to write something right away, you could write: "Thanks for your message; I'll get back to you shortly" - that way you have acknowledged the email, but not said anything that you will regret later.
2. Start The Email Politely
Polite does not mean the same as friendly or happy! A simple, "Thank you for your message" can set the right tone. Let the person know that you appreciate the feedback.
3. Offer a Solution
Say that you understand the issue, but then restate your objective. For example:
"I'm sorry to hear that you don't agree with our new strategy, but our goal is to help the overall organization. I would be happy to discuss things further in order to resolve the problem"
Again, you may be so angry that you want to shout at this person, but remember that you are at work and the best thing to do is to be professional.
If someone has been rude to you, you do not have to take it! You can be direct and set down boundaries in your message without sounding rude. Saying something as simple as, "I appreciate your feedback, but think it may be more effective if presented in a more constructive manner," does the trick. It's important to let the person know that while you accept constructive feedback, you are on the job and things need to stay professional. There's nothing wrong with reminding him or her of that. Kindly, of course!
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