A professional business letter to your boss can be an effective communication tool
There are many situations in which you may find it necessary to write a business letter to your boss. Although some business organizations encourage a more relaxed atmosphere when an employee uses written communication with their employer, a letter written to a boss concerning business of any type should adhere to a format appropriate to the situation. With just a few basic principles, you can write business letters appropriate to a working environment that will allow you to communicate effectively with your superior in the work place.
Instructions
1. Format a business letter to your boss in a professional business-like manner, single spaced and block-style paragraphs. The date of the correspondence should come first, left justified in the upper left of the letter. Drop a line and put the word TO: follow this with the name of your boss, written with proper salutation, such as Mr. or Mrs. Drop down one space and indicate what the letter is in regards to, introduced by the word SUBJECT:
2. Drop down four spaces below the inside address section at the top of your page and type the same salutation you used previously. When typing a business letter to your boss, a proper business salutation is most often preferred. Depending upon how casual your work relationship is, you may consider it appropriate to address your boss by her first name. If the subject of the business letter is serious, such as a rebuttal letter for something you've done wrong at the work place, keep the salutation professional regardless of how casual your work relationship is.
3. Address the subject of the letter immediately in the opening paragraph. There are many instances where you may need to write a business letter to your boss. You might ask for a raise or vacation time, you may present a proposal, or you may be resigning, or appealing a situation in which you've been reprimanded. Keep your content appropriate and to the point of the subject of the letter. Stay focused throughout and don't wander off with material not essential to the subject of the letter.
4. Write in a respectful tone, even if you are writing a letter because you are angry about something. Even if you are defending yourself in a situation where you know you are right, a lack of respect or an angry tone will not help accomplish the goal of your letter. A business letter to your boss is just that -- communication with a superior within an organization.
5. Summarize your letter succinctly. Reiterate any points you've made. If you are requesting a meeting with your boss, a review, or any other contact outside of the letter, request it after your summary and include your availability for such a meeting, even if you simply use the phrase "at your convenience." Close the letter by thanking your boss for his time, then sign the letter with sincerely and your name.
Tags: business letter, your boss, business letter your, letter your, letter your boss, subject letter, write business