Thelma responds to just about every email, saying merely “thank you.”
Though often meant as a courtesy, several of my clients say that one of the more frustrating e-mails they receive is the e-mail that merely responds with the word, “thanks.” Like similar one-word wonders, such as “great,” or “OK,” this practice is another time-waster for the recipient who must open and read the email-not to mention recover from the annoyance of having had to deal with it. Remember, every time someone needs to open or read an email, it is a few more seconds lost from doing something more important.
Thelma’s Antidote: Be judicious in your return “thanks.” Every email you send should add value or advance the conversation. (Excerpted from Inbox Detox, Acanthus Publishing, 2009)
