THE 12 SCRIPTS TO EMAIL & MEETING ETIQUETTE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT (AND MORE)

Yas Ahmad
May 15
4 min read

Updated: May 18

the 12 scripts for email and meeting etiquette

Scenarios, strategies, and ready-to-use templates to help you navigate work like a pro.

PART 1: EMAIL ETIQUETTE – WRITING TO GET RESULTS

1. Following Up Without Sounding Pushy

Scenario: You didn’t get a reply to your email.

Template:

Subject: Follow-Up on [Topic]

Hi [Name],

Hope you’re well. 

Just following up on my email from [date] about [brief summary].When you get a chance, could you let me know your thoughts?

If possible, I’d appreciate your input by [date] so we can move forward.

Thanks so much!

2. Nudging Someone Who’s Missed a Deadline

Scenario: Someone’s late delivering something and you need to nudge.

Template:

Subject: Quick Check-In on [Task/Project]

Hi [Name],
Just checking in on [task/project name]. 

I know things get busy!Is there anything you need from me to move things forward?Let me know if you’re running into any blockers—I’m happy to help.

Thanks again!

3. Pushing Back Respectfully on New Work

Scenario: You’ve been assigned unexpected work or a new task.

Template:

Subject: Clarification on [Task Name]

Hi [Name],

Thanks for flagging this.I just wanted to check in—right now I’m focused on [other priorities].

Would it be okay to align on timelines or priorities to make sure I can deliver this well?

Appreciate your guidance.

4. Clarifying Vague or Unclear Instructions

Scenario: You’ve received unclear expectations or instructions.

Template:

Hi [Manager's Name],

Thanks for assigning this.

Just to make sure I’m on the right track, could you clarify what success looks like for this?An example or specific goal would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance!

5. Responding Calmly to a Heated Email

Scenario: Someone sends a sharp or emotional message.

Template:

Hi [Name],

I sense some frustration in the thread and want to make sure we address things productively.

Would it help to jump on a quick call to clear things up?I value our collaboration and want to move forward constructively.

Thanks for understanding.

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PART 2: MEETING ETIQUETTE – SPEAK UP, STAY SMART, GET HEARD

1. When You’re Interrupted

Scenario: You’re mid-sentence and someone cuts you off.

What to say in the moment:

“I’d like to finish my thought, if I may. I promise I’ll be brief.”

If it keeps happening, email after:

Hi [Name],

I noticed I was interrupted a few times in today’s meeting—I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.

I’ll raise my hand or speak up next time to help the conversation flow better.

Thanks for understanding.

2. When Someone Steals Your Idea

Scenario: You say something and later someone else repeats it and gets credit.

What to say in the moment:

“Glad you brought that up—that’s similar to what I mentioned earlier. Let me build on that a bit…”

Follow-up email example:

Hi Team,

Just circling back on the idea about [topic]—I shared something similar earlier and wanted to expand a bit further.

Attached are my initial notes—let me know what you think!

Looking forward to building on it.

3. Keeping a Meeting on Track

Scenario: The meeting keeps going off-topic.

What to say in the room:

“Let’s park that discussion for now so we can finish the main agenda—we’ve only got [X] minutes left.”

Follow-up email suggestion:

Hi all,

Noticed we veered off into some side discussions today. Maybe next time we can circulate an agenda and assign someone to help keep time?

Happy to volunteer if that’s helpful.

Thanks for the great discussion today.

4. Declining a Meeting You Don’t Need to Attend

Scenario: You’ve been invited, but it’s not relevant to your role or priorities.

Template:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for the invite! Looking at the agenda, I think this might fall outside my current focus.

To manage workload, I’ll send my regrets—but happy to review notes or share input offline if helpful.

Appreciate your understanding.

5. Leaving a Meeting Early (Professionally)

Scenario: You’ve got a conflict and need to leave mid-meeting.

What to say in the meeting:

“Just a heads-up, I’ll need to drop at [time], but I want to make sure I cover anything needed before I go.”

Pre-meeting email:

Hi Team,

Quick note—I’ll need to leave the meeting at [time] due to a prior commitment.

Happy to weigh in on [agenda item] in advance or follow up afterward.

Thanks!

6. Making Space for Others to Speak

Scenario: One person dominates the discussion and others don’t get a word in.

What to say in real time:

“Thanks for that, [Name]. I’d love to hear from [Name 2] or others too—what do you think?”

Follow-up email if it’s a pattern:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for all your great input in meetings. I also want to make sure the whole team gets space to contribute.

Let’s try to balance airtime next time so everyone feels engaged.

Appreciate your energy as always.