Do You Really Need to Send That Email?

 Mon 12 April 2021

Do You Really Need to Send That Email?

As a business tool, email is both essential and incredibly annoying. Many of us aren’t using it in the right way and are guilty of sending way more emails than we need to. So when should you actually send an email and when should you look for another way to communicate? Email is most effective when used in these four ways:

   (1)  To formally communicate a decision
   (2)  To confirm or schedule meetings or appointments
   (3)  To document or recap important conversations
   (4)  To send company or team-wide announcements
(5) Or anything that has to be formally put into writing for the sake of record.

In other words, email is a great way to give someone all the information they need in one place, especially if that information is going to be shared among a group of people. If this isn’t your goal, think about what might be the more effective way to communicate. Is it a Slack message, a call, or maybe even a meeting?
This tip is adapted from “Stop. Does That Message Really Need to Be an Email?,” by Colin D Ellis