Email Faceplants: When Hitting Send Hits Back

I once sent an email that made me want to crawl under my desk and disappear. But we’ll get to that in a minute. First, check this out: A pub chef was recently sacked after accidentally sending an email grievance about his boss to 180 people instead of to just one specific upper manager. Ouch, ouch, OUCH!

Let us learn from someone else's mistakes. Here's what could have helped to prevent this:

• Admins, name wisely. Don’t make email distribution list addresses similar to real addresses. If I manage a team of 180 people (hey, it could happen!) then I would need a group email address, an alias or discussion list to send an email to all 180 people at once. That address or alias should definitely NOT be called "Al Iverson's Team." Autocomplete will pick the wrong one when you least expect it.
• Lock that thing down. Don’t leave email distribution lists open for anyone to use. Otherwise, you’re inviting spam, phishing, and abuse. Need convincing? Read this. Is that directly applicable here? I'm going to say "probably." If the alias wasn't didn't allow underlings to mail the entire team, that message would have bounced and saved the sender from himself, at least momentarily.
• Keep it professional. Don’t put anything in an email you wouldn’t want your mom, the pope, or the police to read. If it leaks, you’ll look a lot better if you weren’t being a snarky jerk. Even if they had it coming. Even if you're on the side of righteousness.

Now, about my own email disaster.

Twenty-two years ago (yes, we had "electronic mail" back then!), a new boss parachuted into our department. After our first meeting, I was less than impressed. So, I dashed off a quick email to a coworker, saying this new guy seemed like a complete knob and expressing my fear that I thought that  we were now doomed. The email message was colorful, graphic, and definitely contained more than one word that likely would make a sailor blush. I hit send, expecting it to land in my colleague's inbox.

Except that I actually sent it to the new boss by accident. Fingers moving faster than brain, I literally sent it to the person I was complaining about.

I realized it immediately. My heart dropped, and I mentally prepared myself to meet my doom. About 30 seconds later, my desk phone rang. It was him, my brand new boss, inviting me into his office.

I entered and closed the door. Mortified, I apologized profusely and promised to make it up to him by excelling at everything he tasked me with. To his credit, he accepted my apology, recognizing that management changes can cause anxiety. I stuck to my word, worked hard, and eventually got promoted from manager to associate director while under his leadership.

So, take it from me: before you hit send, double-check that recipient field. It just might save your job --  and your dignity.