How ChatGPT coached me to email greatness | PCWorld
When it comes to professional exchanges, I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a bit awkward. Sometimes my tone is more terse than intended (sorry!) or I’m just not as clear as I’d like to be from the get-go. Weirdly enough, sometimes I’m more comfortable writing from the perspective of a fictional character than from my own, though it depends on the type of writing. Since I work from home and communicate with my coworkers via text the majority of the time, I decided to elicit help from the all-knowing chatbot otherwise known as ChatGPT.
Guidance from ChatGPT
The bot offered three different responses. The first two were in the form of lists (more like step-by-step guides) with overlapping information. These lists highlighted the importance of clear subject lines and stating your purpose early on in the exchange. However, the third was an email template that illustrated concise language and a polished ending. Bingo! That’s the one I clicked on. 
Though I appreciate how ChatGPT organizes information in easy-to-digest lists, I gravitated to the third response because I prefer to learn by example. The template emphasized clear and concise language, no doubt an important aspect to consider when constructing professional emails, but the tone was too stiff for my liking.
Customizing Email Templates
I asked ChatGPT to help me craft a new email requesting a laptop for review, but to make it more casual in tone. The response the bot provided was more specific to my line of work, but it still felt a bit soulless. Seeking further improvement, I shared an email I had written and asked for recommendations and revisions. 
Constructive Feedback
ChatGPT's feedback helped to refine the original email, addressing issues such as sounding natural and toning down urgency. It also provided insights on integrating the sender's name more smoothly. Minor tweaks were suggested, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the communication. 
I love that I can ask ChatGPT to make minor tweaks to current revisions. It’s a lot faster than asking ChatGPT to construct a new email from scratch. It turns out to be a useful second set of eyes and an antidote to the pitfall of overthinking it.
