Email Hell

One little hack that I've learned and occasionally use is to reply using the subject line only, ending with "(NM)" (for "no message") or "(EOM)" (for "end of message"). It makes life a lot easier for the recipient, who doesn't have to open the message... and, with any luck, encourages them to do the same in their short messages to you.

The incomparable Merlin Mann has a whole gaggle of tips for more effective emailing, both as writer and beleaguered recipient.

Thanks, subject line only is a good idea. Here's a thought - imagine if we were to limit the number of emails everyone in the company could send on any given day to, say, 20. That's it. I bet the quality would improve...

But what if everyone's 20 emails every day were only directed to Sloan? Wouldn't help you much...

Just curious -- like you, I am frustrated by the number of emails I receive. At the same time, I'm also in the habit of 'sending someone an email' rather than get up to find them, call them, write them a letter, etc. It's definitely a two-way street.

Agreed. I'm sure I'm as much as a problem as the next person...