A short job aid on writing an effective professional "ask" email. You often need to ask stakeholders, peers, or your manager to complete an action item. This job aid goes step by step on how to make that email clear.

1. DRAFT EMAIL Draft your email as you normally would, ensuring you have included critical
information relating to the “ask.”
Hello Tara,
Hope you are having a great week. Thank you for agreeing to review my presentation. I’ve attached the
notes file and the PowerPoint this email. Will you check it for grammar and content? I want to especially
make sure the numbers for Q1 are correct. My presentation is next Friday, and will need a day to make
any changes.
MOVE Identify the primary action items, including dates, and place them in the front of the
email. If there are multiple action items, consider bulleting them.
Hello Tara,
Hope you are having a great week. Thank you for agreeing to review my presentation. I’ve attached the
notes file and the PowerPoint this email. Will you check it for grammar and content? I want to especially
make sure the numbers for Q1 are correct. My presentation is next Friday, and will need a day to make
any changes.
Hello Tara,
Hope you are having a great week. Please review the attached presentation by EOB next Wednesday (3/14).
I’ve attached the notes file and the PowerPoint this email. Will you check it for grammar and content?
I want to especially make sure the numbers for Q1 are correct.
HIGHLIGHT Bold dates. Create subheaders. Bullet steps and sub-asks. Your primary focus is to
make it readable and call out important information.
Hello Tara,
Hope you are having a great week. Please review the attached presentation by EOB next Wednesday (3/14).
I’ve attached the notes file and the PowerPoint this email. Will you check it for grammar and content?
I want to especially make sure the numbers for Q1 are correct.
Hello Tara,
Hope you are having a great week. Please review the attached presentation by EOB next Wednesday (3/14).
Please review for:
- Grammar and general content feedback
- Accuracy of Q1 numbers
Attachments:
- presentation_notes.doc - my speaking points
- presentation.pptx - the PowerPoint for the presentation
WRITE A “GET-SH*T-DONE” EMAIL
How to write an effective “ask” email.
Created by Rachel