An email exchange:
X: Hi, Sales have been chasing for the media kits since last year. Can we have the final go-ahead on the design sent last week?
A: We are all aware that the media kits are a priority and we appreciate your help. However, the tone of your email below is inappropriate and not supportive of a team atmosphere. Please consider your tone when sending an email and, perhaps, consider a telephone call in its place.
S to X later: Your email ‘tone’ was okay. You started with a ‘Hi’ anyway. Looks like A was in a bad mood? It’s A’s tone that is not right! She read her own tone into your words! Tell you what – call her – and read from your exact email in a polite tone. ‘Hi, this was my intended tone: ‘Hi, Sales have been chasing for the media kits since last year. Can we have the final go-ahead on the design sent last week?’ Or don’t bother. Just add a smiley and resend to ‘show’ the intended tone! :-] What a waste of time – skirted the original email’s question too!