Exercise · Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
Rewrite the Email
See how the tone of a message affects the recipient's emotions, and learn to rewrite sharp messages without losing the substance.
Time20 minutes
ParticipantsPairs
MaterialsThree short, sharp messages from a manager on cards
From the trainingEmotional Intelligence for Leaders
Why this exercise
Most work communication happens in chats and emails, and text has no voice or face. A manager's short "Ok" is easily read as irritation when they were simply in the lift. The exercise gives two simple rules: when you write, add context and tone in words; when you read, do not fill in the worst.
How to run it
- Briefly explain why emotions come across worse in text than we think.
- Give the pairs three short, sharp notes from a manager to an employee.
- 10 minutes: for each note the pair says how the employee will read it and what emotion it will cause — and rewrites it, keeping the substance.
- 10 minutes: pairs read out one version each, and the group says what feeling the new text creates.
Debrief questions
- Which word or punctuation mark changed the tone most?
- How many words did you have to add to make the message fine?
- Which of your own messages from the past week would you rewrite?
Tips for the facilitator
- To the objection "I don't have time to write politely", suggest a one-phrase rule: add one context word — "Thanks", "No rush". And compare it with the time spent sorting out hurt feelings.
- For the cards, use real wording from the company's chats, with names removed.
More
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