Email Pet Peeve: The one-word response
Posted Under: Email Expert,Email Overload,Email Productivity Tips and Solutions,Productivity,Tips,Toxic Emailers
Okay. Now it is time to rant. This past week I received at least 15 e-mail messages with this simple one or two word response, “thanks” or “ok.”
Hey, I know folks are just trying to be nice. BUT – We have got to let go of our need to keep the trail going. With the average worker receiving anywhere from 100 to 150 e-mail messages daily, let’s do everyone a favor and stop with the one word responses.
I actually received this response — “Thanks — and how are the kids?” Puh-lease! It is bad enough that you send me an e-mail I didn’t need, but now you are asking me to comment on something absolutely and totally unrelated to the original stream of information.
The one exception that I can tolerate as a one-word response is something that relates to a meeting or scheduling or timing. I actually do like to receive a message that says “Confirmed.”
What are your pet peeves?
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Reader Comments
I have two: First, there are many people out there who should not use the “Reply to All” button without adult supervision. Very seldom do I get a message that was a reply to all where the whole group needed to see it.
Second is the overuse of the “high importance” label. Someone I work with probably labels at least half of his e-mails “high importance.” I stopped taking him seriously years ago.
I love the comment about “adult supervision!” some companies have eliminated the ‘reply all’ feature from all their corporate communications!
Me too on the “high importance.” Remember the boy who cried wolf?