HR missing an ‘out-of-office’ opportunity

One career coach says out-of-office emails should be used as more than just an alert

HR missing an ‘out-of-office’ opportunity
HR professionals may be missing an opportunity when setting up their out-of-office email – that’s the claim from one career coach who says it should be used as more than just a standard alert.

“Successful people see out of office emails as an opportunity to not just be courteous, but to add value and continue to make an impact, even when they are not around,” wrote Avery Blank, in Forbes.

Blank, who is both a lawyer and leadership advisor, says there are five ways professionals can leverage their out-of-office email to not only keep people informed but also have more impact.

Highlight a special activity
Will you be speaking at another conference soon? Do you have plans to take on a new project? Blank said out-of-office emails are the perfect channel to let contacts know about future ventures and special activities.

“Give people a good excuse to circle back when you return to engage you in a meaningful way about what’s on tap,” she said.

Provide a link to an article
Keep the sender engaged by including a link to an article relevant to your work or brand, suggests Blank – “to keep things fresh, be sure to share a different link the next time you are out of the office,” she said.

Include pictures of your travels
Regardless of whether you’re travelling for work or pleasure, adding a photo to your away email will keep things fresh and engaging, said Blank.

“Think about a scene that makes others see you being productive or continuing to learn,” she suggested. “Record and share instances and experiences where you are engaged in things that add value to you as a professional.”

Highlight recent accomplishments
If you’re going to be away for a while, use the opportunity to recount a recent accomplishment that you are particularly proud of, said Blank.

“Sharing one of your successes helps others to better understand what you are working on, and, thus, understand what you are capable of and where you can add value,” she explained.

Use it while you’re working
“You do not have to be on vacation to enable your out of office email,” said Blank. “If you are speaking at a conference or engaging in an offsite team-building exercise, include this in your message.”

Related stories:

Six ways to work smarter in 2017 

Will phone calls survive the modern workplace? 

Workers suffering ‘anticipatory stress’ from emails

Recent articles & video

Betrayal: Employer accuses ex-manager of establishing rival agency during tenure

UOB training frontline staff on dealing with cyber scams

Decision issued in first indictment case of South Korea’s Serious Accidents Punishment Act

Talent mobility: What’s the most challenging country for remote workers?

Most Read Articles

More than half of Singapore's workers struggle with trust in workplace relationships

What are Singapore employers planning for salary increases in 2024?

Discretionary bonuses not always 'discretionary'