People making pointless changes to emails

MawtheMerrier

Ancient Chinese proverb (well could be if I hadn’t just made it up)
(S)he who sends the email has the last word on how it is worded. ?

Wise words, Maw. Wise words.

Thanks all. I think I'll suggest in future that emails should just be formally agreed with the Chair before circulation, avoid unnecessary work for everyone etc

Ancient Chinese proverb (well could be if I hadn’t just made it up)
(S)he who sends the email has the last word on how it is worded. ?

I would ask her if she would like to do the job and be prepared to pass it over and have a rest yourself. If she thinks she knows better let her show it. Don't see it as power see it as pathetic which people who constantly correct or show how much better they think they are from others are.

volver

It's power.

I used to have a boss that did this. Showing how invaluable and important she is. Or thinks she is.

I hope you told them you didn't give a flying f like you told me.

I think it is often power, and sometimes just to show that people have read it. I used to sit on QC committees (to oversee the quality of academic modules) and it was very rare for anyone to leave without having to make modifications to their submitted modules, even when the changes made no material difference to the content or sense of what was being said. Some committee members would insist on things being rephrased in one way on a particular year and then ask for them to be put back again the next time the module came up for revalidation. It was one of the many things that made me make up my mind to leave - when you see the wheel being reinvented so many times and can see that it is still round, it gets very wearing.

I agree with Pythagoras, don't send it out to everyone, perhaps one other just to proof read for any glaring mistakes. Not much point having a secretary if every email has to be passed by the other committee members unless it is a major committee decision.

Next time, just don't circulate the draft. And if anyone queries it, say you don't consider it necessary.

I volunteered on a committee where similar happened regularly, it annoyed me (I was doing the writing) so I resigned and gave the reason.

As a volunteer you are giving up your precious time! Who needs any added palaver.

About 20 years ago DH became secretary of his masonic lodge. This entailed a lot of work and a lot of sending of letters and emails - all unpaid. I used to get really p***ed off because no one ever thanked him and one person in particular used to pick out the tiniest errors and complain about them.

Usually the Secretary (who writes reports for a living) sends out the emails. But occasionally the PR person or the Chair might need to circulate some information. I sent out an email recently as the Secretary was on holidays.
We're a voluntary group so there has to be a bit of flexibility.

Who is “ in charge” of this organisation? I would suggest, to avoid messing about and upsetting people, that one person on the committee is in charge of outgoing correspondance, someone respected and trusted. A bit like the editor of a newsletter, who reserves the right to shorten or amend articles. If it is just for internal use, the style does not really matter, but if it is for external use, maybe a Publicity Officer is needed?

It's power.

I used to have a boss that did this. Showing how invaluable and important she is. Or thinks she is.

just say no.

It irritates everyone. We all have different but equally suitable styles of writing. One of our members writes reports for a living, another is an English teacher, another works in senior management. They really don't need to be told how to write.

It would depend on whether her style is better suited, ask the other members which style they prefer.