Here’s another way to think about managing your e-mail…
Try to touch each message a maximum of TWO times. Huh?!! What about those ol’ time management rules that say touch each item only once. Buncha hooey.
There’ve been studies done showing that the average exec checks and reopens and rereads the average email an average of SEVEN times. Now, howzat for productive?
If you want to take control of your email, try from the angle of touching it no more than twice. Once to make a “sort” decision. Then when you’re going to truly work it.
What isn’t said when we commit to doing this is that when we take that action to sort, we also must decide when we will take the action. So… you need to think through the whole thing, relative to the other work you have on your plate. To many people put stuff in triage folders, then go in and read and reread and rereead and rereeeead that same email.
What we need to avoid is looking at things MANY times, trying to decide whether to handle or when to handle. Make that decision the first time you look at it instead. Try it – let us know how it works.
