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From my new book, Life’s a Bitch and Then You Change Careers,
discover how to change careers at any age. Plus interview questions to be prepared for, how others made successful career changes, if you have what it takes to make a change, how to get an offer in a new career when you have no experience and how to stay focused and motivated.
  
For help on negotiating alternative work schedules, researching companies that have family friendly policies, defining the environment and job you want that gives you the balance you seek, then positioning yourself on your resume for this job, see Resumes That Will Get You the Job You Want, Greener Pastures: How to Find a Job in Another Place and Interview Strategies That Will Get You the Job You Want. |
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Personal Dilemmas
"E-mail overload"
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Dear Andrea:
Do you have any suggestions on how to minimize the ridiculous amount of e-mail and phone messages I get from others in our company? I could do nothing but answer messages all day! Some things I need to know, but much of it is too long and I don't have time to respond. I am a manager, but many of the things people write me about are issues I don't need to know. Help!
--Drowning in messages
Dear Drowning:
This is an epidemic in companies everywhere. A survey in USA Today concluded that corporate employees receive an average 83 messages each day--32 by phone, 14 by e-mail, 11 by voice-mail and 9 by fax.
Some of this is due to the fact that there are more ways to communicate than ever before. But other factors include the:
- Proliferation of cover-your-butt messages. Whether it emanates from a fear of losing your job, concern over political correctness or whatever, people are scared. Some overcompensate by making sure their boss knows every last detail about everything they're working on and who said what to whom.
- Inability to edit information. Many people just don't know how to give relevant information in a few words and send rambling messages.
Here are a few tips to manage the problem:
- Tell people who report directly to you what you want and don't want to know about, how you'd like to stay updated and the degree of information you need. For example, if someone is creating a sales presentation for a June 9 meeting, tell them you'd like to hear their progress on May 23 and June 6. Give them parameters: send me the four key points, your closing statement, problems you're running into, help you want from me and when you need me to get back to you.
- Tell them to share this request with their employees.
- Ask people to categorize their e-mail in the subject line so you or your secretary can quickly identify and prioritize. Use categories such as "Please respond" "FYI" or "Immediate."
- Give people parameters for e-mail and voice messages. Tell them before they write or call, to think through: the purpose of this message, points they need to convey and what they want from you.
- Work out a system with your secretary or administrative assistant that lets him or her scan and prioritize your e-mail.
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Advice Topics
Personal Dilemmas archive