What if everyone on the planet made a pact with one another that we would never send long emails again? Think of how much time we would all save! We’ve all been guilty of it in the past — writing a *BOOK* in an email! Our friend, Justin, recently shared this post with us: https://zapier.com/blog/five-minute-email-rule. It’s a great idea! Would you be willing? : )
2) What if We All Agreed: Short Emails?
I’m not quite so sure why you think this is a good idea. People says don’t send any more letters and save a tree or don’t print this email and save a tree. That idea I understand but telling people to write shorter e-mails when they might need to express something in a carefully worded longer e-mail doesn’t make that much sense.
And besides, saving time so you have more time to look at something on the Internet is that the way to go?
Hi Steve. I guess I’m just asking – unless we ‘tame this beast,’ it just seems like it will become untenable.
I can both agree and disagree… :) As someone who regularly sends detailed instructions overseas to brothers who have poorer internet (and poorer surfing-for-instructions skills) I am fairly skilled in making concise instructions. To do so, sometimes takes an hour. But the results can be followed by the intended audience. I have also sent short, one-paragraph emails which I have spent much more time praying over than writing with the end-result being an hour or more (most of those are better do do in-person or over the phone, but sometimes those are not an option.)
At the same time, there have been many times when I went astray with interpersonal emails that took too long, had too many assumptions, and ended up causing more problems than solutions. There are many times when fewer words (whether in email or speech) is better.
Instead of saying, “never spend more than 5 min on an email”, I would say, “try to be a wise communicator, in your written as well as verbal communication. Shorter is often better.” “Taming the tongue” is one of those topics that we need to perpetually need to be reminded of. Thanks.
That sounds like good wisdom, Tim.
Great idea to keep down the ongoing chatter to a minimum to get more productive!!!
Maybe I’d articulate it as: Discerning the purpose of the email & then designate a time limit.
It truly depends on the purpose.
Example – it only takes a few minutes to look at social media about the one I’m emailing to include something personal in the email that lets them know I truly care about them. #MakingConnections They put stuff ‘out there’ for a reason. It’s a good practice to find out what they are saying as I construct my email to them.
As a leader in mid-management, I need to take my time to digest information our org feeds us in order distill it to core essentials for my team to help them stay focused on high value activities v. them reading the emails and getting lost. This takes careful thought let alone spellchecking before hitting ‘send.’ #ThisTakesTime
Also, if you are constantly using email to communicate to people who care and are sympathetic to your cause, taking pains to do our homework about who we are writing to, putting some notes together and then coming back to it a few days later to spell it all out makes is also essential. #NotEveryoneIsAWriter
It all depends on what we are using email for — replacing the old written snail mail, sending detailed information or simply as any other form of digital messaging. #PurposeDrivesUse
praises to my lovely intercessor who said I’d love to add you but you must keep it short.
so my near weekly has a max of 4 short paragraphs
beginning with the persecuted church
a long bit rarely