E-mail Errors

by Editing Working Girl

I can be reached by e-mail at all times, both business and personal. I love the fact that though a few years ago this would seem obsessive behavior.But with the bounds and leaps of smart phones, pretty much every one of you can claim the same fate.

With all of this constant connection, something is bound to go wrong. Like that e-mail that you thought you only sent out to a coworker calling your boss' bluff but didn't realize you hit "Reply All". Maybe even that draft you keep to rant in that accidentally was sent? That e-mail to a customer that was meant for a coworker? Sometimes, it happens.

Luckily, I have only had this experience in a very mild manner. I was forwarding an e-mail to a coworker so he could see my prior conversations with a customer he was on the phone with and accidentally sent it to the customer. No harm, no foul. But what if I had said something bad in the e-mail? What would I have done?

I think the best way to handle that sort of situation, is to be completely upfront and claim responsibility. This can go further than you think. Instead of blaming it on the e-mail system, computer, internet, distraction - admit fault. Yes, you did accidentally send a horrible e-mail out, but trying to hide behind the computer further will only make things worse. Secondly, depending on how bad the e-mail actually was, make sure to throw the appropriate apology in there. Maybe it will open up discussion between you and your boss? Maybe your coworker will forgive the things you said? Hopefully, you will get the issue resolved.

As Editing Working Girl, this is where I plug the great habit of editing every e-mail. If you make it a priority to glance over your e-mails before you send it (starting with the Send To line) there is a good chance you can avoid this situation. I do it now for every work e-mail I send after that mishap with the customer. I take it to the next level and after I forward an e-mail I check my Sent folder to make sure it did, in fact, go to the right person. Be proactive.

As the woman in charge of Twitter at my office, I have, on more than one occasion, sent out a personal tweet on the work account, and vice versa. Luckily, I have always caught it right away and Twitter has a delete button.

Has this e-mail snafu happened to you? What advice do you offer Working Girls who may be going through this situation (or may go through it in the future)?

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April's Fools Day...Everyday

In my experience, practical jokes are a never-ending business of life. Practical jokes follow us wherever we go. High school, college, even work. 

At my high school senior pranks were serious business. We made the freshman dress up like babies (think pacifiers and booties - yes, i mean serious). We took every single desk in the right wing of the school outside before the first day of school and made the sophomores and juniors carry them back in. And a few freshman even had to kiss our Birkenstock-clad feet. Ok, so it wasn't exactly Dazed and Confused, but in high school you could get away with things like that and it was seen as funny (mainly because it was supervised). 

College followed a similar pattern. The most tame being the time our guy friends disconnected our air conditioning unit and hid it in their house which we girls followed by a retaliation of "kidnapping" a reluctant subject (just an fyi: pantyhose over your face disguises nothing) and stealing all of their knick knacks, posters, and clothes. Let's just say our college pranks almost lost us some friends. 

Work has turned into my new playground of practical jokes. My gay, 45-year-old, and Cuban best friend at work was the king of making Power Point presentations during our Biggest Loser competition. These Power Points painted the competition as satanical creatures eating Burger King. But we have to keep in mind that my gay bff did win the competition so he must have been doing something right. 

But my favorite practical joke was the time that a few girls in the office foil-papered everything in one of our bosses office - his stapler, his mugs, his plants. It was so Office-esque that it got me thinking. Why stop practical joke wars in high school or college? Work is a great place to have (responsible) practical joke fun. To follow are my pick for the top four practical jokes that should be done by all people at some point during their office career (depending of course on the cool factor of their boss). 

1. Jell-O was made infamous by my favorite Working Boy Jim on The Office, which is why one day I will go to the store, buy a "World's Best Boss" mug, and encase it in Jell-O. I will then place it on my boss's desk and wait for hilarity to ensue. Or to get fired.

2. As I was googling "office pranks" at work the other day (come on, who doesn't?), I ran across this little number. Post-its covering every single nook and cranny of a corner office! How great is that. Sure, it might take a few extra hours but it would be so. worth. it. 

3. This might best the easiest of the four, but sure would make me smile. Blow up a ton of balloons and fill the cubicle with them. The plus side to this one is an easy clean-up.

4. And my favorite office prank has to be making all your co-worker's desk supplies into cardboard cut-outs. Hilarious. Simply hilarious. 

Excuse me while I go buy some Jell-O. 

Reason #328 Why I Can't Stand My Job

The CEO, The Boss and The President of my company are the kings and queens of ridiculous e-mails. Emoticons, swearing, and requests that make you want to throw yourself out of the window - these are the kinds of things I look forward on a day-to-day basis when I open up my Outlook at work. 

Without further adieu I would love to provide a few examples of things that give me headaches and make me want to throw my computer out of our 20-story building. 

***

To: WG2

From: The President

Subject: The poster in the foyer...

Seems to be uneven....not sure if the tripod is set up correctly. If you have a chance to check and adjust that would be great. If it is going to be there until August, we may as well have it looking good :) 

***

To: The Entire Company

From: The CEO

Subject: MEN'S ROOM WINDOW

I love having to do these types of e-mails...such granular stuff...but here it is...the men's room window is a drama to make work right. Please leave it CLOSED and do not, repeat, do not make any adjustments to the window. It looks bad, is hard to get back into place and frankly does no good to open. So thems the rules. Anyone caught breaking the rules will have to pee in their pants from now on. 

***

To: WG2

From: The Boss

Subject: lunch

Could you please get me lunch from Cosi: a signature salad w/ extra pistachios and low-fat sherry vinagrette (on the side only) with whole wheat bread. Don't forget a fork from the kitchen and napkins. Thanks. 

***

To: The Boss

From: WG2

Subject: 2008 events calendar

To access Google calendar you need to log into your Gmail account and then in the upper left hand corner will be a link that says "calendar". Click on this and all the events that I have created will show up. 

To: WG2

From: The Boss

Subject: RE: 2008 events calendar

Mmmmm...this assumes I know how to log into my Gmail account WG2 :) 

***

Yes, The Boss does not know how to use e-mail. Or Power Point. Or Excel. Or how to get her own lunch.