Comments

If you work in e-mail savvy organization like I do, turn of your e-mail client, check it once or twice a day... You're virtually present anyway, through IM, cell, so if something is urgent...call me :-) I still prefer to talk to people...It build relationships and it's more personal that way.

Posted by Ivan at July 19, 2007 10:18 AM

Handling e-mail is best done within a framework of good personal productivity practices which are themselves best managed within good work/life balnce thinking. The following may be helpful: http://nicholasbate.typepad.com/nicholas_bate/pdfs/boost.pdf

Posted by Nicholas Bate at July 19, 2007 10:47 AM

I have found that distilling the entire message into the subject line is helpful. Two-three sentences in the body of the e-mail can support the subject line. If I can't do this, I pickup the telephone and call to talk.

Posted by Andrew Bleke at July 19, 2007 11:55 AM

1. 50+ emails/day generating types = giant egos run amuk ... plus legal entanglements of putting it out in cyber-space! A click on Sean below yields email tips ... less is more.

Posted by Sean at July 19, 2007 12:59 PM

With regards to email clutter management I am a fan of Bill Jensen => Check out his simplicity survival handbook.

Posted by Luc Galoppin at July 19, 2007 1:24 PM

The over-flowing in box has become the new BS mantra of people who want to be seen as important, but don't really have anything going on in their lives -- at work or at home. It's the same as the ol' cell phone glued to the ear, "look at me cuz I'm a wheeler-dealer" schtick.

"Oh, I have so many emails today, however will I handle all of them?" Sure. Reality check--most people get less than thirty per day and how long should it take you to deal with that many? About thirty minutes or less if you have any communication skills whatsoever.

Deming had it wrong. American business isn't sick because of bad management, it's sick because of people who can't bring themselves to do some work, but waste all day trying to look "big" in their coworkers' eyes, who are doing the same, and on and on.

Nicholas Bate: thanks ever so much for plugging your "vital beliefs" product herein. In my daily Pareto you are definitely in the "trivial many" category. Nobody needs you telling them how to manage their life.

Posted by Red Island Rhodes at July 20, 2007 6:55 AM

1. I agree Red - too many feel a super busy cyber world means their nefarious import has been elevated ... sending out spam & making spam like websites!

2. I enjoyed the low key Nicholas piece - though it is a bit serious & less than a Sean_3.0 type may desire.

Posted by Sean at July 20, 2007 8:51 AM

I'd like to thank everyone who's offered tips, as I requested in the post. Nicholas, Ivan, Andrew, Sean, and Luc, your email management strategies are greatly appreciated.

Posted by Shelley Dolley at July 20, 2007 10:57 AM

you only need three words to make a sentence
you only need three sentences to make a paragraph
you only need three paragraphs to tell a story

Posted by davecade at July 20, 2007 11:36 AM

First, practice BLUF--Bottom Line Up Front. Put the purpose of your e-mail in your first paragraph.
Second, Set a goal of not having a vertical scroll bar on your e-mail (and yes, your signature counts).
Accomplish both of the above by spending more time editing your e-mail. Investing more time results in sharper, clearer e-mails which will pay off for you when trying to persuade someone to do something.

Posted by Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross at July 21, 2007 4:20 PM

Does / should brevity apply to blog postings as well?

Posted by Mark JF at July 23, 2007 6:43 AM

1. Yes brevity please ... case in point to NOT follow - the long winded Trevor Gay @ his devious best trying to use TPC site as personal ad for anti-free enterprise simplicity nonsense!!!

Posted by Sean at July 23, 2007 8:09 AM

Once more Sean thank you so much for your plug .. I welcome your praise as always.

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 23, 2007 8:14 AM