Effective e-mail introductions

Helping people make meaningful connections is a worthwhile task. But you need to consider the time and best interests of those you are connecting.

If you’ve decided that the introduction is a win-win for both parties, here are three rules to follow:1. Be clear about your motive. Explain immediately why you are making the introduction. What is the value that each of the parties brings?2. Be careful with the ‘Cc’. Unless you are 100 per cent sure that the recipient is open to the introduction, don’t include all parties on the message. Instead, send the introduction with the appropriate contact info so the person can follow up if she wants to.3. Provide an ‘out’. No one wants to feel forced into making a connection. Always give people an option to opt out.* The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http://www.hbr.org). Today’s management tip was adapted from ‘Be an Effective Gatekeeper (or, How to Keep Out the Riff-Raff)’ by Jodi Glickman. – Nampa-Reuters