I have just been sent an email by mistake,

[iwantitalltobenormal]

AIBU to be massivley hurt and pissed off from the email I have just read which was sent to me by mistake?

at the begining of this year, I offered to do a monthly blog for our small team, so other departments are more aware of what we do internally - (manager thought it was a great idea ) baring in mind this was my first attempt at this , and by no means a mandatory task , I did it all on a power point presentation , I also do not claim to be a professional blog writer and I really enjoyed doing it, and putting it together, I sent it to my manager back in March, It took a little while due to also carrying out my day to day job.

fast forward to today ( baring in mind I had no response or feedback on my blog, whether it be positive criticism or any type of feedback) someone has unfortunately sent me a long email trail between my line manager to his line manager slating my work on the blog I had done and slating how unprofessional it the content is - but in a really distasteful way , and nasty.

I feel hurt, upset and belittled.

I also think the response above is perfect.

Given the personal nature of the emails, I would make a Subject Access Request. This would mean the company would have to provide you with copies of all the personal info they hold about you. This includes emails. Just so you know exactly what you're dealing with.

Another vote for @ToddlerBumpBorderCollie 's reply, but I would also copy in HR or the manager of the manager's manager too. Unless this was part of a constructive email between your manager and his/her manager on how to coach you better, it sounds wholly unprofessional.

Sorry you found out this way.

Yes print it off.

@FleurDaxeny

the mistake was unprofessional

Fair enough to be hurt, but you just had a very genuine feedback that you would never have got in real life. Use it professionally and learn from it. It stings when you get criticised, but sometimes it's helpful.

I agree with this, but I do understand that you're hurt. I would have been, too.

I’d definitely send the cool bit professional response. How unprofessional of them.

Unless the person who forwarded it to you was one of the people making nasty comments I would be wary of sending it back to your manager in a way that identifies that person. They may have been trying to give you a heads up and it sounds like your managers may be the sort of people to make things difficult for that person if they find out.

Ouch! I agree with the PPs who suggested taking the high road in an icily professional manner. Asking for a meeting to discuss it would be good (although I appreciate you may not want to face them) and ask why you hadn't had any feedback if the company have been discussing the blog since March.

What did your own boss say about it?

I received this by mistake. It sounds like we should probably have a chat about the concept for the blog. Maybe we could agree a framework for each post so that it meets everyone’s expectations?

I love this reply.

Ha ha I would die inside if I had a response like ‘let’s schedule a time to discuss’ let them sweat it OP. It only paints them in a very bad light. Awful to receive that though! Try not to let it get to you at least you’re someone who tries to pitch in.

What did it say? Is there any chance that you are misconstruing it? Not suggested that you are but sometimes things don't come across well on emails.

slating my work on the blog I had done and slating how unprofessional it the content is

just because they have been unprofessional in the stupid way of not keeping their thoughts.. private, it doesn't mean your work was of an acceptable quality.
Fight the form, but accept that they might have a point.

say and do nothing. your emotions haven't settled.

give it at least a week.

the "icily professional" response praised above is not going to work. If you really must say anything there is only one thing to say and that is "received in error". Then STOP TYPING and make it their problem....

Oh wow. If I were you, I would personally love to use this as an opportunity to pretend I had no idea it wasn't intended for me to see.

Dear xxxx and xxxx,

I appreciate you finding the time to consider this project and provide feedback.

I am disappointed however with the unprofessional tone in which the feedback was provided, with none of the discussion being directed towards me. I believe a direct conversation regarding the project would have been more appropriate, and more than sufficient to allow me to make any relevant changes and/ or abandon the project completely should that be necessary. I hope you can consider this constructive feedback in future.

However, as it stands, I will of course take your comments on board and proceed with the changes you have suggested, if indeed you wish for the project to continue.

Regards,

AllToBeNormal

This isn't constructive criticism, it's a slagging off if work between two managers.

I think I'd be sending something back along the lines of, this work was done in your own time, you were going above and beyond what was expected of you. You asked for feedback however your manager hasn't even had the common decency to say they've received it. This was a first attempt, you are not skilled in this area however you wanted to make a difference to the team. I'd also express how disappointing and hurtful it was to read the comments and it's put you in a very difficult position as you work with these people. You feel under valued, under appreciate and that the managers were very unprofessional.

I'd also copy in their manager and directors.

OP - YANBU
I would feel exactly the same way. I agree with taking time before responding.

Sorry this has happened.
But there's always a silver lining in cases such as this.
Stay professional, but forward to your manager with a very brief message such as "Putting aside the fact that this was clearly not intended for me to see, I am taking on board that the feedback is not positive. Would you like to give clear guidance on what you would like me to do to improve it, or shall we just bin the whole idea?"
No mention of your feelings. There is every chance you can shame them into some positive action, and that you will come over as the better person. Unless of course they don't even know what good management is, in which case, you've lost nothing anyway.
But sorry, I know it's hurtful and unprofessional. Prove to them you are better than them.

I'd also copy in their manager and directors.

don't, really don't.
You won't come out well!

To be honest I'm stunned at how two (or more) people who can display such a lack of professionalism could possibly comment on how professional something else is. But then I am not surprised, as it is often (if not normally) the people who are the least professional that believe they are the most professional. Very interesting.

Forward it to your manager but delete the name and email address of the person who sent it to you.

Say: ‘Hi X, I received this in error today. Sincerely, OP’.

They will shit themselves.

Just to backtrack, why did you use PowerPoint for a blog?

Wow, I bet someone is feeling mortified at the moment and trying to recall that email! Rightly so.
YANBU at all. Awful of them

Oh dear, I don’t blame you for being upset, but I think you ought to drop it - sounds like what you had in mind is not what they want, so best to let it go.

To give another perspective, I have been shocked at the quality of some of the documents produced by colleagues on occasion, particularly if riddled with spelling errors (etc) and will have expressed my honest opinion to a friend at work before finding a more diplomatic way of addressing it with the perpetrator. I’ve never put it in writing though!

You could acknowledge it and say something like - ‘I received this by mistake. It sounds like we should probably have a chat about the concept for the blog. Maybe we could agree a framework for each post so that it meets everyone’s expectations?’

Yes I like this too - it's accepting that someone isn't happy and wants things done differently and you're open to that, while gently letting them know they've cocked up.

This is what I've learned with things like this - never go in guns blazing, and if someone has upset you, treat them as if they've been reasonable and take their points on board. They will be more likely to apologise and grovel - and they'll also owe you one in the future.

The person who sent it to me sent it by mistake

I would very much doubt that for a moment.

I think you need to respond professionally. I also suggest if they’re able to email people “accidentally” they may need some training on using email?

I’d be miffed if I were you @iwantitalltobenormal 💕