How to Email Someone More Senior Than You

Confidence and brevity matter more than excessive formality.

1. Get to the point quickly — senior people's time is genuinely limited.
2. Avoid over-apologizing for "taking their time" — a professional, direct message doesn't need an apology.
3. Make the ask specific and easy to act on (a yes/no question, a specific decision needed).
4. Match their typical communication style if you know it (formal vs casual) rather than defaulting to maximum formality.

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