In a recent post we looked at email overwhelm and how you can reduce this if you work in an organisation.
But maybe you want to take control of your own email? If so, here are some simple tips that will get you into a harmonious relationship with it:
Respond to email within one working day, to acknowledge receipt and give a specific time when any actions will be completed.- Take an email sabbatical on occasion to give yourself a break.
- Always consider whether an email really needs to be sent.
- Don’t hit ‘send’ when you’re angry.
- Maintain a balance: keep emails short and to the point – but don’t make assumptions…spell things out clearly.
- In a long thread, include a short recap.
- When you receive an email do one of the following:
- DO it – take action yourself. Follow the ‘2-minute rule’ if possible: if you can do it within 2-minutes do it immediately.
- DELEGATE it to someone else straight away
- DEFER it, and schedule when you’ll take action on it
- FILE it for reference
- DELETE it
Small changes; huge benefits.
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