Do this to get people to act on your email requests

Frankie Kemp
11 January 2021
Have you ever sent an email with a query or request that’s completely ignored in the reply?
This happens so much because emails are structured badly.
This 3 minute video introduces a simple flip in the way your write your emails will ensure that you have your questions answered and requests actioned.
It saves everyone SO much time because they don’t even have to read your whole email.
Video and Transcript
Do you ever send an email with a query and the email comes back to you but they’ve actually not addressed your query at all. No response to your question. If this is the case, then I have got a technique which is so easy to implement and it will get your questions answered by email.
Often we send an email with a query and it comes back to us – the email will come back but it won’t refer to the question that we’ve asked and this is really irritating and it’s terribly time consuming cos then you have to write back or pick up the phone etc.
We’re just going to cut that out by changing the way you’re writing your emails.
The reason that queries often don’t get responded to is because we treat our email as if they’re face to face communication. So in face to face communication, what we would usually do is build up a context for the query and then a rationale, and funnel down into the actual question.
What you need to be doing is reversing this. (No, reversing the way you’re writing the email! Not me.) When I say reverse, what I mean is you write the query or the question right at the top, then best to leave a line so it stands out. Then, you funnel down into the context and the rationale. So you put that below the query.
Make sure the query and the question is at the top and then the rationale comes after it. This way, you will increase the likelihood of your questions being answered.
The reason why they’re not is because of this upside down triangle, where we put the rationale afterwards. Also because often, we’ve buried the question between paragraph 3 and 4. And anyway, if an email is that long, it’s probably a video call or a phone call.
So keep your emails short and sweet with the question at the top, funnelling down into the rationale and the context below it. That way you will save so much time and frustration by getting your questions answered.
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Comments.
Hi Frankie!
I love this tip. I already was doing this in certain situations without having the awareness. Now that I do, I will concentrate to do all my emails like this.
I did have a few of my colleagues and one person for a class telling me that this sounds a bit rude and kinda direct, but I saw a good response when I did it, therefore I know it works.
Hi Valeria!
Thanks so much. I love getting feedback from readers 🤗 and I’m pleased you see results.
I find that any curtness is softened with a bit of padding at the beginning such as”Hi, I hope you’re well and [°°°°] is progressing smoothly” then going into the action:
“please note that….”
Then follow with the rationale.
If you’re doing that and they’re offended then, trust me, they’ll get over it and start doing the same when they notice their requests are being ignored! Keep leading the way, Valeria 🏆