“Dance like no one is watching; email like it’s being read aloud at your deposition”

This sentiment was passed along this morning by a colleague.  It is good to be periodically reminded to be careful with your business and professional emails:

When writing emails or, alternatively, creating exhibits for the inevitable law suit, consider the following:

• Keep business emails professional
• Write as if your mother were reading over your shoulder
• Consider the purpose of the communication
• Consider the audience/recipients of the information (including a judge and jury)
• Be factual; where opinion is called for, identify it as opinion, and make sure that it is germane to the issues; do not give an opinion (e.g., legal) that you are not qualified to give
• Do not make mean or demeaning references to others
• Make your point, but avoid extreme emphasis!!!!
• Keep business and personal messages separate
• Consider how your characterization of the Company and its activities would be perceived by an outsider