Effective Inbox Management (2)
Good Morning,
some more effective email management tips from The Gilbert Center:
The web seems full of tips about email and most of them are just fine, but contain the same basic ideas. Nathan Zeldes at Intel has ten ideas, several of which I haven't seen before: (1) Don't use your inbox as a catchall folder. (2) Set up a folder that deletes its content automatically after five weeks, as a repository for certain messages. (3) Assist colleagues' inbox-filtering efforts by agreeing on acronyms to use in subject lines. (4) Send group mail only when it is useful to all recipients. (5) Ask to be removed from distribution lists that you don't need to be on. (6) To cut down on pileup, use the "out-of-office" feature of your email. (7) When possible, send a message that is only a subject line, so recipients don't have to open the email to read a single line. End the subject line with < EOM>, the acronym for End of Message. (8) Graphics and attachments are fun, but use them sparingly. (9) Put large attachments on the web. (10) Be specific.
We all knew this already, but researchers have demonstrated the relationship between egocentrism and poor communication in email. The researchers investigated the powerful role that tone of voice and interaction played in rapidly increasing the effectiveness of communication and a reduction in conflict, leading them to conclude that we should all pick up the phone more often.
I'm really impressed with the growing number of sophisticated observers about the effective use of email. Merlin Mann's advice on Writing Sensible Email Messages is a good example. His suggestions include tips on writing great subject lines, clarifying your outcomes, and agreeing on conventions related to expected actions.
check out my whitepaper on Effective Inbox Management.
