If your employees struggle to get more done, then you should consider some more email reply all rules. We’ve talked before about this growing problem, where an employee’s email inbox becomes overrun with messages, most of which have little value.
For some, this is the first time they’ve ever considered the way they use email as a tool. It’s an important time management strategy for busy professionals. In this episode of our weekly productivity series, you’ll learn some simple, actionable tips can reduce the amount of time spent on low value messages.
What Productivity Questions Does This Video Answer?
- What are some good reply all email rules?
- How can I spend less time on email at work?
- What are easy productivity tips?
- How can I be a more productive leader?
Video Transcript for More Email Reply All Rules
Let’s talk some more about email reply all rules. I’m sure you’ve been in that situation. You walk away from your desk, for five minutes and in that time a supervisor sends out an email to a group. And everyone in the group feels like they have to respond to the message, or add something, or ask a different question.
By the time you get back to your desk there’s this huge, long list of email messages you have to go through and it’s really a waste of time.
Here’s what I suggest to organizations because we know people are spending about a quarter of their day on email. Maybe there are better things they could do?
First Suggestion: Can you have a code for messages, you send out, that do not need to reply. Sometimes you do need to respond to an email message, a group message. But can you all agree to keep everything on topic. So if someone is asking about “X,” you all agree you’re not going to bring up “Y.”. Because that may just confuse people, it makes the whole message trail that much longer. You stay on topic.
You may want to consider if email is really the best thing. Sometimes, old fashion methods, like signs can work a little better.
For instants, if you want to encourage people to recycle, maybe a sign at the point where they would need to recycle, like near a copier or soda machine. That is the place where you should tell people, “Hey, don’t forget to recycle.”
Final thing, make sure that new employees, who are joining your organization, know these email reply all rules. You want to make sure it becomes part of your culture, people know what to do, and new employees aren’t bringing bad habits. It also can help make sure the older employees remember how it should be done.
About This Video Series
Ken Okel’s ongoing Employee Productivity video series will make you more effective on the job. Every week, you’ll learn a new, easy to understand, problem solving tip that you can use right away, like more email reply all rules.
Tired of a productivity problem, like why the details matter at work? Let us know and we’ll feature it in an upcoming episode.
About Ken Okel
As a motivational speaker, Ken Okel works with leaders and organizations to boost productivity, performance, and profits. At conferences, conventions, and company meetings, he engages audiences with new ways to maximize their time at work. To see a sample of his keynote and workshop presentations, visit his video page.
