PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are essential to business and career success. Whether it’s your boss, colleagues, mentors, clients or professors, it’s important to actively seek out opportunities to build strong relationships. Such connections can see you through all stages of success.

What are Professional Relationships Useful For?

Communicating Professionally:

We realize a lot of communication takes place via email. Email is a valuable tool, but this can also create challenges. Miscommunication can occur when people have different expectations about what they send and receive. Email can used for many different purposes, such as communicating with professors and supervisors, requesting information, and applying for jobs, internships, and scholarships.  We have attached information on how to communicate effectively with professors and university professional staff below. Remember, depending on the purpose of your message, this format will differ in formality, intended audience, and desired outcomes. 

Email is a good way to get your message across when:

• Needing to get in touch with someone not available by phone, someone who do not see regularly, or someone who may be in a different time zone.
• The information is not time-sensitive. Many people use email correspondence only during regular business hours. Unless your reader has promised otherwise, assume that it may take a few days for them to respond to your message.
• You need to send someone an electronic file, such as a document.
• You want to distribute information to multiple people quickly. For example, a memo that needs to be sent to your entire work.
• You need a written record of the communication. Saving important emails can be helpful if you need to refer back to what someone said in an earlier message, provide some kind of proof (for example, proof that you have paid for a service or product), or review the content of an important meeting or memo.

Email is NOT a good way to get your message across when:

• Your message is long and complicated or requires additional discussion. This would be best accomplished face-to-face. If it is beyond a yes/no explanation, try and schedule a meeting instead.
• The information is highly confidential. Email is NEVER private! Email messages can be forwarded to other people without your knowledge. Further, a backup copy of the email can stored on a server, even if you have deleted the message and think it is gone forever.
• Your message is emotionally charged or the tone of the message could be easily misconstrued. If you would hesitate to say something to someone’s face, do not write it in an email.

Retrieved from: UNC Writing Center

More Information on Professional Relationships:

• 13 Key Traits of Strong Professional Relationships
• Building Great Work Relationships
• Why Your Professional Relationships Matter
• 3 Traits of a Strong Professional Relationship
• Effective Email Communication

Resources:

• Professors
• Student Learning and Career Development
• Wellness Coaching (through Student Health and Counseling Center)