Think Twice Before Hitting ‘Forward’: The Risks of Forwarding an Email from Your Supervisor

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As a working professional, you may have received an email from your supervisor that you are inclined to forward. While it may seem like a good idea to forward the email, it is essential to consider the potential consequences before doing so. In this blog post, we will discuss why you should not forward an email from your supervisor and what you can do instead.

1. Confidentiality Breach

Forwarding an email from your supervisor can be a breach of confidentiality. Some emails contain sensitive information that is meant for specific individuals or teams. By forwarding an email, you risk exposing that information to people who are not authorized to access it. This can cause damage to the organization’s reputation and can result in legal consequences.

2. Misinterpretation

Sometimes, emails can be misinterpreted, leading to confusion and misunderstandings. When you forward an email from your supervisor, you risk contributing to this problem. The recipient may misunderstand the message or interpret it in a different way than intended. This can lead to miscommunication and can impact productivity and relationships in the workplace.

3. Lack of Professionalism

Forwarding an email from your supervisor without permission can be perceived as unprofessional. It can undermine the supervisor’s authority and create a negative impression of you as an employee. It is important to respect your supervisor’s position and authority in the workplace, and forwarding an email without permission can be seen as disrespectful.

4. Time-Wasting

Forwarding an email from your supervisor can also be a waste of time. Your colleagues or team members may not have the time or interest to read the email, and forwarding it can clog up their inboxes. This can distract them from their work and decrease productivity.

5. You Relinquish Your Authority

It may seem faster and easier to forward an email to your staff with an ask by your supervisor, but in the long-term, this may undermine your authority as a supervisor. By exposing that the ask is actually coming from your supervisor and not you, your staff may unknowingly view you as less of an authority figure. In addition, your staff may choose to send an email with the response directly to your supervisor instead of back up the chain of command to you. Even worse, your staff may punt back the ask to your supervisor or ask questions themselves, adding workload onto your supervisor. That’s a surefire way to annoy your supervisor and lose your authority at the same time!

So, what can you do instead of forwarding an email from your supervisor?

1. Ask for Permission

If you find an email from your supervisor that you think would be relevant or interesting to your colleagues or team members, ask for permission before forwarding it. This shows respect for your supervisor’s authority and helps to ensure that the information is shared appropriately.

2. Summarize the Message

Instead of forwarding the entire email, summarize the message in your own words and send it to your colleagues or team members. This can help to avoid misinterpretation and can save time. It also allows your staff to view you as the authority and not your supervisor.

3. Use Your Own Words

If you want to share the information from the email, but do not want to summarize it, use your own words to convey the message. This shows that you have read and understood the email and can help to avoid misinterpretation.

In conclusion, forwarding an email from your supervisor without permission can have negative consequences. It can be a breach of confidentiality, lead to misinterpretation, be perceived as unprofessional, waste time, and negatively affect your authority. Instead of forwarding the email, ask for permission, summarize the message, or use your own words to convey the information. By doing so, you can help to maintain a positive and productive workplace environment.

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