ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > November > 19
Monday, November 19, 2007
Drowning in E-mail?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a recent AJC article, our friend Bill Hendrick talked about how e-mails affect our productivity in the workplace. It’s true that in the past fifteen years, the way we work has been irrevocably changed. In the name of progress, we’ve all had to adjust whether we like it or not.
Most people who have been in the workforce long enough to know the difference will agree that our e-mail in-boxes have virtually replaced the traditional in-boxes that used to rest heavily on the corners of our desks. Still there are some differences of opinions as to whether or not the advent of e-mail has made our work easier or more arduous.
Certainly, e-mail has saved a few trees in its day by eliminating a number of paper memos. It’s great for tracking correspondence, but for that same reason it doesn’t forgive poorly worded responses typed in anger or haste.
It has also increased the speed of business. Some will agree this is good, other will not. It also raises a few questions about urgency in business communications:
If I send a business-related e-mail about something that is important to me, and she doesn’t reply within two days, do I have the right to be indignant? Is it reasonable for me to assume she is a slacker? What if I don’t hear back from her within a week? What if my message is time-sensitive?
Is the burden on me, as the sender, to follow up since I’m the one who needs the information? Or is the burden on the recipient to respond in a timely manner?
At the end of the day, when it’s time to power down your computer or plug in your blackberry and step away from work, has e-mail made your work life easier or has it chipped away at your productivity?
