I do much of my client communications by e-mail because I can work and do research in the evenings and weekends when my clients are usually away from the office. I can respond to questions or problems and have answers waiting for them when they arrive to their offices in the morning. But if I’m in the office during the day, it seems that email is more of an annoyance than a production enhancer. Oh my, what should I do?
I came across this article: Ten Steps for Cleaning Up Information Pollution which has helped me minimize my disruptions and make the website more of a tool. As step number 7 notes, I made a list of common client questions and it did reduce the number of phone calls and e-mails that asked similar questions. . .repeatedly. I add to the list whenever someone comes up with a good question (and I have a good answer.)
I also turned off the little bell that dings every time Outlook receives an e-mail. I have a Pavlovian response to quickly open Outlook and read the e-mail. Now, rather than jumping into Outlook every time the bell rings, I read my e-mail as a break from researching, writing and otherwise working. I believe my day is becoming more productive.
