Why not to highlight “Why” Questions in Emails?

In my recent post (https://www.erhan-coaching.com/en/post/why-not-to-ask-why-questions) I pointed out some pitfalls that “Why” questions can lead to, especially during cross-border collaborations. Extra attention should be paid when writing "Why" Questions in Emails.

Why Question in Emails

Source: Copilot

During a face-to-face conversation, the reaction of the Receiver will be available to the Sender immediately. Based on that it is possible for the Sender of the “Why” question to explain his intention and avoid misunderstandings.

This is trickier though in written language such as E-mails. There is no immediate feedback loop on how that question was perceived by the Receiver. General rule of thumb: Begin questions with “What” or “How”. If for whatever reason a “Why” question appears to be necessary, avoid highlighting it. Do not write “Why?” …

… in big letters (WHY?)

… in bold and underlined letters (Why?)

… marked in yellow (Why?)

… with red letters (Why?)

… or a combination of all variants (WHY?)

“Why” questions come along with an accusatory and judgmental flavor on its own already. There is no necessity to highlight it, making it appear like shouting it into the Receivers face. This is especially critical during cross-border project collaboration where communication styles might differ strongly from each other.

What is your experience with "Why" questions in intercultural cross-border settings? Please feel free to leave your comment under the Blog or LinkedIn.

#interculturalcompetency #interculture #communication #expat #expatcoaching