Did I actually Send that Email?

Ever regret sending an email? If you use Gmail, Google has a solution for you called Mail Goggles. You can program your email to challenge you with a math problem to see if your wits are about you. That will give you a little pause and time to cool off before dashing off that email! http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-in-labs-stop-sending-mail-you-later.html It defaults to being turned on late at night, but you can adjust the settings to meet your own regretful email sending habits.

Dr. Shaun Jamison is a business and life coach and law professor. He can be found online at www.guideonyourside.com

Email Hoaxes

Because it comes up so very, very much, I thought it was time to remind everyone about email hoaxes. The only good thing about email hoaxes is that they likely use less paper than faxes.

Here's how it works: Someone in your network of friends and acquaintances sends you an email with alarming information about something that probably fits within your preconceived notions (otherwise it is irritating and you merely delete it). Next, you get all excited and do a blast email to everyone you can think of.

This is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. Not everyone agrees with your point of view and may be needlessly offended. What is more important, your friends and family or taking a shot at that &%$#%&!!!! in Washington or Hollywood? The big problem is that these emails are rarely ever true and, surprisingly, some of them are so old they date back to the days of fax rumors.

If you feel the need to share rather than delete, please take a moment to look up the rumor email. Often times you can look at websites like Snopes.com and they will have information on the rumor. I sometimes put keywords into the search engine and I get a bunch of websites that explain why the email is false or misleading.

Your friends and family DO want to hear from you, but they would like to hear how you are doing and what interesting things you are yours have been up to.

Peace,

Shaun
www.guideonyourside.com

Too Many Emails!

Do you have this challenge? I bet you do. Here are some basic tips:

1. Unsubscribe to newsletters you just delete anyway. Save yourself a step.
2. If your email allows you to filter email into folders, set up rules to prioritize email. I.e., if it has an FW in the subject heading for "Forward" it goes into a folder that *maybe* you'll read.
3. If you have employees, teach them to use email efficiently. Concise, descriptive subject lines are very helpful to manage email. Senders should be clear about expectations - do they want a response or action? Only copy emails to people who *actually* need to see them.
4. If there is a string of emails going back and forth, schedule a call and resolve the issue. Again, only copy in people who need to know.
5. Delete, delete, delete. Set aside time to handle emails and delete or file them.
6. Answer your email. Not answering email only gives birth to more email or hard feelings. If you give out your email address, then do utilize it or don't let people know your address.
7. Let people know your preferences. When is an email appropriate or a call or voicemail? You know your habits, be honest.
8. Don't forward junk mail to others, it will only encourage them to send it to you and others. Those "alerts" are almost only bogus, so not only do they waste time, they often needless upset people. Chain letters weren't funny when they were in paper and they haven't improved in email.
9. Try sending a note through the postal system once in a while. It has a much better chance of being read these days than email. . .

Shaun G. Jamison, JD, PhD
www.guideonyourside.com
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