#email-etiquette

#email-etiquette

Consider the email Lively sent to the actor Ben Affleck in May 2024, in which she asked him to watch her cut of It Ends with Us, the movie at the center of the controversy. Despite headlines decrying this email as "desperate," "cringe," and worse, I was more surprised at how warm and even jokey it was, and how hard a time I would have had crafting one nearly as good in a similar situation:

When you meet someone in person, you can see their facial expressions, stand or sit facing them, and gauge their interest in you by what and how they speak. Virtually, it gets trickier: Emails and messages can be misunderstood, video connections can be spotty, and phone lines can be disconnected (did she hang up on me?). With virtual communication, a professional tone becomes essential. Choose words to signal respect, preparedness and seriousness, even in casual settings, as they amplify your reputation and personal brand.

You send a tidy email at 10:12, outline the request, add a friendly "when you have a moment," and expect a reply before lunch. In Italy, the moment might be next Tuesday. If you are wired to hit inbox zero, Italy can feel like a slow lane. You write at 09:00, someone opens it at 18:47, and nothing lands until the following week. Then, when the answer arrives, it is complete, polite, and stamped with a protocol number like the matter just entered a courthouse.

The rudest thing you can do? Assume everyone is OK with being contacted for help.

Volunteering in a faculty member's research lab is a beneficial way to learn research methods and can lead to paid positions through demonstrated performance.