Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Blowing Off Some Dust


It has been about 6 months since I've last blogged. Bet there are some cobwebs and dust collected all over this blog. Heh... At the same time, I'm in a bitching mode and need to let out some stuff...

Most of us receive emails from time to time, and some of us receive TONS of emails everyday. Yet, there are some people who don't know how to use email properly. Ok, maybe just one person in my life I've seen so far. I seriously think this person need to undergo an email etiquette course or something.

A collection of things done:
1) Sends emails about small little things which can be verbalized and without the need to leave an email trail.
Not everyone has the privilege to enjoy a huge mailbox the size of Gmail. Moreover, in my job scope, dealing with creatives/artwork day in and day out, I don't have space in my mailbox for your nonsense.

2) Sends "informative" emails which are just junk.

3) Forwards emails for the sake of disseminating information or "heads up", but nothing is confirmed/planned/concrete yet.
One should know when information should be disseminated instead of just blindly forwarding the emails resulting in information coming in in drips-and-draps. If it's something that needs to be actioned on in a later stage, appreciate your 4-5 "heads up-ing" emails, but please summarise at some point of time. Not everyone has the time and energy to go through 4-5 emails to piece things together. If it's just purely FYI, with no action necessary, only disseminate the information at the end when it is firm.
Just like the contestants in Survivor, most of them would say, having information, any kind of information is crucial to the advancement in the game. To them, information is king. Having or knowing information is cool, is great. But know when to share and how to share. Some can be verbalised first without clogging up mailboxes.

4) Sends emails about urgent matters that need to be actioned on almost immediately without tagging it as "high importance", nor even following up with a call.
I don't stare at my screen the whole blardi day waiting for you to email me.

5) Forwards emails blindly requesting for things to be done without finding out any information about it, nor even following up with a call.
The request is sent to you. If you think that you have to delegate or forward the request to the correct person to follow up, it doesn't hurt to pick up the phone to call the person whom you have delegated or forwarded the request to get his/her attention on it. If you have no information, tell that person that you have no information whatsoever and get him/her to clarify it directly with the requester.

6) On top of the points above, more than half of the time, emails that are sent/originated from this person are without a subject title.
 I'm busy, I've other more important mails to read and action on. I do not even wish to spend an extra minute filtering the mails you sent out.

7) And on top of the points above, sends/forwards at least 3-5 such emails in a week.
The email system is in place for one to use, not abuse. Go back to those days where such a communication tool doesn't exist. Do you kill trees and use up reams of paper via faxes? Ah, probably now I know why you keep complaining that your mailbox is full...

On a happier, less bitchy note, Happy National Day!

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