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January 14, 2007
Email Rules #1 & 2-Need to know vs Nice to know and To vs Cc
Like you, I'm trying to stay on top of my email inbox. I'll list two "rules" that I'm trying to follow to help stem the email overload.
Rule #1 One of the tips I try to use is to reduce the number of people on the email distribution. I try to use the "need to know" vs. "nice to know" rule. I try to not put a person on the email list if it is simply a nice to know email.
Tip #2-To vs. Cc.
I assume that people understand the distinction between "to" and "cc" on an email. Yet in my discussions with people both in my work and my "other" life with the church and volunteer activities, I find out that many people either do not know or have forgotten the difference between the two. It's understandable in many cases-email as we know it has only been around for 10 years, a relatively short timeframe in which a communication medium has become widespread. If a person is on the "to" line, I'm expecting either action or sharing with them because they need it in their work. If it is on a "cc" line, I don't expect any action, but simply am keeping them informed because they "need to know" the information for their work.
Posted by chitch at January 14, 2007 3:49 PM