Avoid Email Time Wasters
Emails that aren't sent to you directly (i.e., you are copied on them) are usually for information purposes only. Try to acknowledge that role and delegate the responsibility of the action to the intended recipient. --Cara Brook
Have you ever wondered how some people find time to vacation, work out, coach little league, or simply relax? Do they have more money? Do they have more help? What's their secret? Their secret is simply having learned the art of prioritizing, delegation, setting expectations and how to effectivley use the word "No." Unfortunately for many of us, this is easier said than done. So let's take a common time waster and break it down: Email. I often have people tell me that they are surpised how fast the hours go and how little work gets accomplished while they're corresponding via email.
1. Try shutting down the email application for an hour or two (or at least turn off the email notification noise/icon). Many of us feel a sense of urgency to check our email when a new message is delivered. Eliminating this distraction will allow you to focus on the work in front of you.
2. Designate certain times during the day in which you will read and respond to emails. If you are managing a staff who needs your input on a regular basis, set expectations by sharing your strategy for addressing email.
3. When reading and responding, try to prioritize and address the most important emails right away. Eliminate the urge to procrastinate. Saving an action item until later will only create a backlog of deliverables.
4. Emails that aren't sent to you directly (i.e., you are copied on them) are usually for information purposes only. Try to acknowledge that role and delegate the responsibility of the action to the intended recipient.
-Cara Brook in AdvisorMax expert forum "Improve Your Time Management Skills."
*Be sure to check out Cara Brook's upcoming AdvisorMax coaching session "The Secrets of Time Management."
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