Your to-do list is more important than your email.
Keep things in perspective and don’t let email take over your day. If you’re not careful, you can waste large chunks of time without much to show for it. Accept the idea that ignoring some emails may be necessary given your other priorities.
Consider adding a notice to your signature block that states the times of day you check email and suggests calling if the issue cannot wait. This will lower expectations that you will respond immediately to every message. Most people will think twice before interrupting you with a phone call unless the matter really is urgent.
Don’t overlook email’s benefits.
However excessive and frustrating it may be, email remains the tool of choice for business communications. It’s an essential part of your everyday productivity. And there are plenty of good things about it.
Email:
- Allows you to assign rules, alerts or filters to pre-label or sort messages so that important ones come to your attention and unwanted ones are immediately deleted
- Saves endless rounds of telephone tag when you’re trying to share information or reach agreement
- Allows you to leave and receive messages when it’s convenient for you, without interrupting the other person
- Replaces meetings held just to keep everyone informed
- Reduces telephone interruptions
- Documents details and agreements
- Is searchable by sender, topic, or any other criteria
In truth, email can save lots of time and trouble if you don’t become a slave to it. The key is to manage it, just as you do every other aspect of your work.
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