Comments on: Off Topic? Emails and Professionalism http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/ Teaching Truths to Keep us Shod Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:35:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jennifer Dorman http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/#comment-105 Jennifer Dorman Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:32:40 +0000 http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-105 Seriously, I can totally empathize with your rage. I am presenting working on a several ongoing projects that require collaboration on the part of several colleagues. I sometimes wait upwards of a week to get a response on something that is actionable. I tried to make this process easier by starting using Google Docs, but they never sign into their Docs and, when I brought this up, I was advised to "send them an e-mail to remind them that I have updated the document." ARG! It's not so hard to simply respond with a short, "I received your e-mail, but don't have time to respond right now. I'll get back to you [insert date here]." Seriously, I can totally empathize with your rage. I am presenting working on a several ongoing projects that require collaboration on the part of several colleagues. I sometimes wait upwards of a week to get a response on something that is actionable. I tried to make this process easier by starting using Google Docs, but they never sign into their Docs and, when I brought this up, I was advised to “send them an e-mail to remind them that I have updated the document.” ARG! It’s not so hard to simply respond with a short, “I received your e-mail, but don’t have time to respond right now. I’ll get back to you [insert date here].”

]]> By: Lee http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/#comment-96 Lee Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:12:27 +0000 http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-96 You struck a nerve with me because if there's one thing I can't tolerate is being ignored if I've requested a response. It's the worst type of passive aggression. I don't buy it when people say they get too many emails each day to respond because then they are doing something wrong: they either need to do a better job at what they do so there aren't so many email requests for help, or they need to request assistance or something, but if someone emails you, and you claim to be a professional, you MUST respond, even if its very brief. Can you tell I've experienced the same thing, repeatedly with the same people? I hope you find some resolution and if you do, would you share your success? Thanks, Lee You struck a nerve with me because if there’s one thing I can’t tolerate is being ignored if I’ve requested a response. It’s the worst type of passive aggression. I don’t buy it when people say they get too many emails each day to respond because then they are doing something wrong: they either need to do a better job at what they do so there aren’t so many email requests for help, or they need to request assistance or something, but if someone emails you, and you claim to be a professional, you MUST respond, even if its very brief.

Can you tell I’ve experienced the same thing, repeatedly with the same people?

I hope you find some resolution and if you do, would you share your success?

Thanks,
Lee

]]> By: astevens http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/#comment-95 astevens Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:29:12 +0000 http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-95 As per my latest rant... http://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/dont-hit-the-forward-button-on-that-e-mail/ Don't forward chain e-mails!! As per my latest rant…

http://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/dont-hit-the-forward-button-on-that-e-mail/

Don’t forward chain e-mails!!

]]> By: Lor http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/#comment-94 Lor Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:08:50 +0000 http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-94 Lots of good suggestions here. Sorry you are having trouble getting your co workers to use email communications. I have had similar rants myself. Lots of good suggestions here. Sorry you are having trouble getting your co workers to use email communications. I have had similar rants myself.

]]> By: Laelia http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/off-topic-emails-and-professionalism/#comment-93 Laelia Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:07:39 +0000 http://teachingtruths.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-93 If you asked me to do something, I will send you a quick 'done' or 'ok' e-mail when I've completed the task. PLEASE don't feel the need to 'Reply' to that... It just needlessly fills up my e-mail box, wastes my time, and yours (though you probably have nothing better to do if you're reaching that level of responding! LOL) Unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, please delete the text when you hit the 'Reply' button. This is especially true if your e-mail goes into a Google Group or listserv. Yes, I DO SO enjoy scrolling, scrolling, scrolling..... Keep the Subject line and the content aligned. If you start a new topic when you hit 'Reply' then PLEASE 'Edit' the Subject line. Unless I'm a VERY close friend or you checked with me, PLEASE don't forward me any jokes, tasteless images, or urban legends. I'd much rather spend the time plucking hairs out of my nose (no, really! LOL....'joking!!!'). And if you didn't already realize it, you better make note of this somewhere...If you send me an e-mail and you 'bcc' someone else, IF I do a 'Reply to All', guess what? We'll ALL be able to see who the 'bcc'er is! Your best bet is to NOT 'bcc' anyone, but do a separate e-mail to that individual. Hmmmm....geez, I could have done a whole blog post on this as well. Thanks, Cel! If you asked me to do something, I will send you a quick ‘done’ or ‘ok’ e-mail when I’ve completed the task. PLEASE don’t feel the need to ‘Reply’ to that… It just needlessly fills up my e-mail box, wastes my time, and yours (though you probably have nothing better to do if you’re reaching that level of responding! LOL)

Unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, please delete the text when you hit the ‘Reply’ button. This is especially true if your e-mail goes into a Google Group or listserv. Yes, I DO SO enjoy scrolling, scrolling, scrolling…..

Keep the Subject line and the content aligned. If you start a new topic when you hit ‘Reply’ then PLEASE ‘Edit’ the Subject line.

Unless I’m a VERY close friend or you checked with me, PLEASE don’t forward me any jokes, tasteless images, or urban legends. I’d much rather spend the time plucking hairs out of my nose (no, really! LOL….’joking!!!’).

And if you didn’t already realize it, you better make note of this somewhere…If you send me an e-mail and you ‘bcc’ someone else, IF I do a ‘Reply to All’, guess what? We’ll ALL be able to see who the ‘bcc’er is! Your best bet is to NOT ‘bcc’ anyone, but do a separate e-mail to that individual.

Hmmmm….geez, I could have done a whole blog post on this as well. Thanks, Cel!

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