Dangerous e-mail

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The web magazine for top managers - who's promoted, who came, who left? And what to do when you're not in the office.

When sending an e-mail check the Cc field. A few words in wrong mailbox can mean difference between working man and unemployed one.

A long time ago computers were something unknown and mystical. People though that they have some kind their own will, and they were considered different from other machines. The truth is that there are people now in 21st century with deep misunderstanding what computers are. In some cases that can be dangerous and it may lead your business and career to a premature end.

Take for an example an e-mail. It's a beautiful internet service that connects you with your relatives and business partners. There's no need for waiting a letter to come, the communication is fast and most of the time very reliable, and everybody with a computer has an e-mail. There lies the danger.

In this week's article about business practice I'll again write about thing that did happen in the real world. Since we in Histerius most of the time are working on different project, the last few week was the time for web development. A large client, a good project and lot of space to show what we know and what we are capable of. However, as things often turns upside down, there was some misunderstanding between Histerius staff and the client.

Dangerous e mail

Nothing special and unusual, it happens and it is a part of the business. But the client, one of his employees was very unsatisfied with our work, and he let us know. A frantic multi-day conversation followed and that unsatisfied person forgot that at least ten persons are in Cc. So, when we got an e-mail it wasn't nice, there were hard words in it, but nothing more. Then, at some undefined point in time, he started to communicate with his colleagues and he started to describe us a bunch of thieves, doing nothing, ask for lot.

As it turned out, the other employees of our client were all reasonable men and women, and PR agency that lad the project was full of understanding. They tried to calm down the furry at the other side of the e-mail which forgot that we are in Cc. Very embarrassing but not for us. Our client truly did understand our position, frantic work and our desire to finish the job in a few days, but insulting e-mail kept coming from frustrated person. Every insult, every hard word and every complain was meant to be sent to his superior - but we got it too.

After many hard words my CEO finally called the client and for hours we were at the brink of disaster. There was a real possibility for a contract to be thrown in the garbage can. That way both our client and we would lose time, money and reputation. Luckily, my CEO was able to stop all those e-mail attacks and we continued to do the development. There is only one real looser here and that we he that sent those e-mails. He has no working knowledge of how e-mail works, not to mention what words Windows and Outlook means, and that cost him dearly. One simple check would reveal that there are many CCs and that many people will read what they shouldn't read.

So, don't think that computers are machines with their souls. They don't think, they just do what you tell them to do. And when you are telling them, check the Cc field, it may cost you a lot. A few words in wrong mailbox can mean difference between working man and unemployed one.

July 25, 2008

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