Friday 15 June 2007

Secret #81 Taming the Email Monster

Email is the opiate of the masses.

And if you don't agressively learn to tame the email monster lurking in your inbox, the email monster will get you.

Here's an idea you can try immediately:

Don't leave your email program running.

Why? When you're in the zone, focused on the task at hand, all of a sudden your computer goes Ding! and you've been interrupted.

Those interruptions cost you more than you think. Some efficiency experts posit that it takes four minutes to recover from an interruption and get back in your zone.

Solution: Decide when and how many times a day you will receive and respond to email--and let others know.

For example, I have one friend whose inspirational email signature line is, "I only check and respond to email one time a day. If you need an immediate response, please call me at the following number." He's taming the email monster--and yet he's accessible for those who need him immediately. Depending on the nature of your responsibilities in life, you may need to check email two or three times a day. The point is NOT that you do email once a day--but that YOU establish when and how many times a day you will receive and respond to email. Be sure to let others know what you decide and how they may be able to reach you outside the mode of email.

What have YOU discovered that helps you tame the email monster? Use the comment link below to share your wisdom with us... we'd love to learn from you.

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