Episode: 648

Episode Title: Email is Not the Enemy

How many emails are currently sitting in your inbox? Too many? Here’s how to help your team get out from under the pile, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 648 show:

Welcome to The Perna Syndicate! In a recent study by Coda, 84% of respondents said they have “many” emails sitting in their inbox. You can almost hear them add, “too many.” 

Email is one of those areas that seem minor, but can actually be creating significant stress for your team. Maybe it’s causing you a bit of stress right now as you reflect on the number of emails currently sitting in your inbox!

Personally I’m a fan of email, but it has to work for you, not the other way around. Like many other workplace tools, how people manage their email is highly individual. Some use it efficiently as a working to-do list, others have a detailed filing system—and yes, some do tend to let it pile up. 

Because everyone handles their email differently, the best way to make email better is to find out how much friction their inbox is causing for your team. If everyone’s satisfied with their current process, back away slowly and don’t change a thing. 

But if people express a sense of overwhelm and discouragement at the number of emails, maybe it’s time for a change. Coda recommends using a messaging tool for everyday communication. Email can be reserved for things you’ll need to reference later: big-picture items, external messages, and longer-term outlines. 

Bottom line: email is not the enemy if you use it right.

Tomorrow: another time-sucking part of the workday can be the constant meetings. On The Perna Syndicate next time, we’ll cover the little things that can make or break your meetings. See you then!