Worst Practices | Business to Business
Have you noticed that communications from organizations that should know better often comes with an opening “Dear Colleague”?
What’s up with that?
According to Merriam-Webster, a colleague is: “an associate or coworker typically in a profession or in a civil or ecclesiastical office and often of similar rank or status; a fellow worker or professional.”
Sure, this is probably just a pet peeve of mine. I get that.
But when I see an email that starts out that way my brain turns off. I just delete the damn thing.
I often get “Dear Colleague” emails from trade organization pitching something such as a call for nominations for the annual awards.
If I am on your list, you should know my name. It’s better to either say “Dear David” or just leave the salutation out completely.
