You cannot select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
69 lines
44 KiB
HTML
69 lines
44 KiB
HTML
1 year ago
|
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en-US"><head prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article#" lang="en"><meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="viewport" value="width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1"><title>The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need</title><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" value="IE=edge,chrome=1"><meta name="viewport" value="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=5.0"><meta name="description" value="Stop “organizing” your emails by subject and start thinking of them in terms of deadlines.
|
||
|
|
"><meta value="article" name="og:type"><meta value="The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need" name="og:title"><meta value="https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need" name="og:url"><meta value="en_US" name="og:locale"><meta value="Stop “organizing” your emails by subject and start thinking of them in terms of deadlines.
|
||
|
|
" name="og:description"><meta value="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_1280,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/https://fast-company-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/fc/3067012-poster-p-1-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.jpg" name="og:image"><meta value="Fast Company" name="og:site_name"><meta value="178479832213933" name="fb:app_id"><meta value="100000062710915" name="fb:admins"><meta name="twitter:card" value="summary_large_image"><meta name="twitter:title" value="The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need"><meta name="twitter:description" value="Stop “organizing” your emails by subject and start thinking of them in terms of deadlines.
|
||
|
|
"><meta name="twitter:url" value="https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need"><meta name="twitter:site" value="@fastcompany"><meta name="twitter:image" value="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_1280,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/https://fast-company-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/fc/3067012-poster-p-1-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.jpg"><meta name="twitter:domain" value="fastcompany.com"><meta itemprop="name" value="The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need"><meta itemprop="description" value="Stop “organizing” your emails by subject and start thinking of them in terms of deadlines.
|
||
|
|
"><meta name="theme-color" value="#ffffff"><meta name="google-site-verification" value="rU5yl8EMHvPkTmEeqiqqeEVmNz4eTxaV_Zw8-tr26VA"><meta name="robots" value=""><meta name="robots" value="max-image-preview:large"><meta value="https://www.facebook.com/FastCompany" name="article:publisher"><meta value="1280" name="og:image:width"><meta value="720" name="og:image:height"><meta value="2017-01-09T05:00:00" name="article:published_time"><meta value="2017-01-12T10:37:23" name="article:modified_time"><meta value="Zach Hanlon" name="author"><meta name="news_keywords" value="Work Life, byline"><meta value="Work Life" name="article:tag"><meta value="byline" name="article:tag"><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://assets.fastcompany.com/_/fc/55c23516e3adb05ce8488e119e328c5a4ecb9a7c"><link rel="preload" href="https://z.moatads.com/mansuetoprebidheader15141606144/moatheader.js" as="script"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net" as="script"><link rel="preload" href="https://assets.fastcompany.com/assets/js/vendor/prebid/prebid_5.6_st.js" as="script"><link rel="preload" href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.fastcompany.com/assets/js/vendor/prebid/mansueto_tam.js" as="script"><link rel="preload" href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.fastcompany.com/assets/js/vendor/keywee/keywee.js" as="script"><link rel="preload" href="https://assets.fastcompany.com/_/fc/bundle/js/vendor.4c7b7725fe7e29cacb34.js" as="script"><link rel="preload" href="https://assets.fastcompany.com/_/fc/bundle/js/app.4c7b7725fe7e29cacb34.js" as="script"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://d2t7a3zbo166a9.cloudfront.net/css/fc3.css"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/Beckett/A2Beckett-BookWEB.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo1-Bold-Italic-Web/CentraNo1-Bold.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo1-Bold-Italic-Web/CentraNo1-BoldItalic.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo1-Book-Italic-Web/CentraNo1-Book.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo1-Book-Italic-Web/CentraNo1-BookItalic.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo2-Web/Book-Italic/CentraNo2-BookItalic.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/CentraNo2-Web/Bold/CentraNo2-Bold.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/Monosten-stencil-light/monosten-stencil-light-pro.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/Grifito-Grifo/Grifito-Web/Grifito-L-Bold.woff"><link rel="preload" as="font" crossorigin="crossorigin" type="font/woff" href="https://images.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/static/sites/fonts/201010/Grifito-Grifo/Grifito-Web/Grifito-L-Bold-Italic.woff"><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need"><link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png?v=5"><link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-32x32.png?v=5" sizes="32x32"><link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-16x16.png
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<noscript><img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1389601884702365&ev=PageView&noscript=1"></noscript>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<noscript>
|
||
|
|
<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none;" alt="" src="https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?event=init&tid=2613508785281&pd[em]=<hashed_email_address>&noscript=1">
|
||
|
|
</noscript>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</div> <div id="ZN_2t6mDnUjRUuS8jH"></div><div class="masthead"><header class="masthead__header"><a class="masthead__title" href="/"><h2>Fast Company</h2></a><button class="masthead__menu" aria-label="dropdown menu"></button><div class="masthead__interactive"><div class="masthead__social"><span class="masthead__social-label">Follow</span><ul class="masthead__social-list"><li class="masthead__social-item"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FastCompany/" class="masthead__social-button masthead__social-button--facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="facebook follow link"><i class="icon-fa-facebook"></i></a></li><li class="masthead__social-item"><a href="https://twitter.com/fastcompany" class="masthead__social-button masthead__social-button--twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="twitter follow link"><i class="icon-fa-twitter"></i></a></li><li class="masthead__social-item"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fastcompany/" class="masthead__social-button masthead__social-button--instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="instagram follow link"><i class="icon-fa-instagram"></i></a></li><li class="masthead__social-item"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/fast-company" class="masthead__social-button masthead__social-button--linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="linkedin follow link"><i class="icon-fa-linkedin"></i></a></li><li class="masthead__social-item"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FastCompany" class="masthead__social-button masthead__social-button--youtube" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="youtube follow link"><i class="icon-fa-youtube"></i></a></li></ul></div><div class="masthead__user-login"><span class="masthead__user-label">Login</span></div><button class="masthead__search" aria-label="site search"><label for="queryly_toggle"><i class="icon-search-glass"></i></label></button></div></header><nav class="masthead__nav masthead__nav--active"><ul class="masthead__nav-list"><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Co.Design" href="/co-design">Co.Design</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Tech" href="/technology">Tech</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Work Life" href="/work-life">Work Life</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="News" href="/news">News</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Impact" href="/impact">Impact</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item masthead__nav-item--remove-on-scale "><a class="" title="Podcasts" href="/podcasts" target="_blank">Podcasts</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Video" href="/videos">Video</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Recommender" href="/recommender">Recommender</a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item "><a class="" title="Innovation Festival 360" href="/section/innovation-festival-360"><span class="hideOnSmall">Innovation Festival 360</span><span class="showOnSmall">IF360</span></a></li><li class="masthead__nav-item masthead__nav-item--bold masthead__nav-item--subtopics "><a class="" title="Subscribe" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/subscribe?cid=dan904:701:000:SCTA_&utm_source=paidDisplayOn&utm_medium=edit%20top%20nav&utm_campaign=dan904:701:000:SCTA_" target="_blank">Subscribe</a></li><li class="masthead__spacer"></li><li class="masthead__channel "><div class="masthead__channel-logo"><a class="masthead__channel-title" href="/user/fastco-works">FastCo Works</a></div><div class="masthead__channel--container masthead__channel-container--0"><ul class="masthead__channel-items"><li class="masthead__channel-item"><a class="" title="AWS" href="/fcw/aws">AWS</a></li><li class="masthead__channel-item"><a class="" title="Genpact" href="/fcw/genpact">Genpact</a></li><li class="masthead__channel-item"><a class="" title="IBM" href="/fcw/ibm">IBM</a></li></ul></div></li></ul></nav><div class="main-menu"><div class="main-menu__brand "><button class="icon-close" aria-l
|
||
|
|
" style="height:0"><li class="main-menu__collection"><a href="https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival22" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><h3 class="main-menu__events-link">Innovation Festival</h3></a></li></ul></div><a href="https://catalog.mindedge.com/fastcompany" class="main-menu__learning">Courses and Learning</a><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90516811/fast-company-mediakit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="main-menu__advertise">Advertise</a><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/" class="main-menu__current-issue">Current Issue</a><div class="main-menu__subscription"><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/" class="main-menu__mag-cover"><img alt="Current magazine issue cover" width="225" height="280" src="//www.fastcompany.com/magazine/latest-cover.jpg" loading="lazy"></a><div class="main-menu__subscription-button-row"><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/subscribe?cid=dan904:701:000:SCTA_&utm_source=paidDisplayOn&utm_medium=edit%20top%20nav&utm_campaign=dan904:701:000:SCTA_" class="main-menu__subscribe-link" title="subscribe">SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div><div class="main-menu__social-menu"><div class="main-menu__social-text"><span class="main-menu__social-text-hed">Follow us:</span></div><div class="main-menu__social-list"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FastCompany/" class="main-menu__social-button main-menu__social-button--facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/v1576118408/fb-icon-circle-fb.svg" alt="Social media icons"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/fastcompany" class="main-menu__social-button main-menu__social-button--twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/v1576118408/tw-icon-circle-tw.svg" alt="Social media icons"></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fastcompany/" class="main-menu__social-button main-menu__social-button--instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/v1576118408/insta-icon-circle-in.svg" alt="Social media icons"></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/fast-company" class="main-menu__social-button main-menu__social-button--linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/v1576118408/linkedin-icon-circle-li.svg" alt="Social media icons"></a></div></div></div></div><section class="main" role="main"><section class="post-page"><section class="post-page "><div class="post__wrapper " id="post__wrapper-3067012"><div class="post__article-top-ad-wrapper"><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--flexiblepushdown ad-wrapper--articletop"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--mobileleaderboard ad-wrapper--articletop"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div><span style="font-size:0"></span><div class="post post--default"><div class="post__main"><div class="post__body" data-id="3067012" data-slug="the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need"><header class="post__header"><div class="post__header-text"><ul class="eyebrow"><li class="eyebrow__item"><time datetime="2017-01-09T10:00:00Z">01-09-17</time></li><li class="eyebrow__item"><a href="/section/work-smart">work smart</a></li></ul><h1 class="post__title"><a class="" href="/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need" title="The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need">The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need</a></h1><div class=""><h2 class="post__deck">Stop “organizing” your emails by subject and start thinking of them in terms of deadlines.
|
||
|
|
</h2></div></div><div class="post__poster-wrapper post__poster-wrapper--long "><figure class="poster post-featured__poster"><picture><source media="(max-width: 40em)"><img data-sizes="calc(0.58333 * (100vw - 40px))" data-srcset="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_562,ar_16:9,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/fc/3067012-poster-p-1-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.webp 562w, https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_937,ar_16:9,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/fc/3067012-poster-p-1-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.webp 937w, https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_1250,ar_16:9,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/fc/3067012-poster-p-1-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.webp 1250w" class="lazyload aspect-ratio-image aspect-ratio-image--" loading="" width="1250" height="703" alt="The Only Five Email Folders Your Inbox Will Ever Need"></picture></figure><div class="post__featured-caption"><cite><em>[Photo: RADsan/iStock]</em></cite></div></div></header><div class="post__container post__container--long"><div class="post__left-rail" style="transition:opacity 250ms;opacity:1"><div class="post__social-container"><div class="social social--post" id="social--3067012"><ul class="social__list "><li class="social__item "><a class="social__link social__link--facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need&app_id=178479832213933&display=popup" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="icon-facebook"></i></a></li><li class="social__item "><a class="social__link social__link--twitter" href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need&text=The%20Only%20Five%20Email%20Folders%20Your%20Inbox%20Will%20Ever%20Need" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="icon-twitter"></i></a></li><li class="social__item "><a class="social__link social__link--linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need&media=The%20Only%20Five%20Email%20Folders%20Your%20Inbox%20Will%20Ever%20Need" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="icon-linkedin"></i></a></li><li class="social__item "><a class="social__link social__link--email" href="mailto:?body=The%20Only%20Five%20Email%20Folders%20Your%20Inbox%20Will%20Ever%20Need https://www.fastcompany.com/3067012/the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need&subject=The%20Only%20Five%20Email%20Folders%20Your%20Inbox%20Will%20Ever%20Need" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="icon-share-email"></i></a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="post__content"><div class="post__byline"><cite class="post__no_highlight">By Zach Hanlon </cite><span class="post__readTime">5 minute Read</span></div><article class="post__article "><div><p>For years, my approach to email was like slaying a hydra. For every email I deleted, two more landed in my inbox.</p></div><div><div id="fc-anyclip"><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--mobileparallax_1"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="adInserts_0"><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--native_mid_article_inject"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--oop"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div><div><p>Part of the problem, I knew, was the nature of my work. My team stands between two major organizations within my company, making collaboration crucial, however inefficient it was in practice. So not only did I put up with this mess, I was actually complicit in letting it worsen. I saved everything. I thought most messages addressed directly to me needed my response. I was wrong.</p><p>Looking back, I d
|
||
|
|
<div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="" width="511" height="511" data-src="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_596,c_limit,q_auto:best,f_auto/fc/3067012-inline-i-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.jpg" class="lazyload" src="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_596,c_limit,q_auto:best,f_auto/fc/3067012-inline-i-the-only-five-email-folders-your-inbox-will-ever-need.jpg"></div>
|
||
|
|
<div class="caption-wrapper"><figcaption>My newly streamlined, uncluttered inbox has a grand total of five folders.</figcaption></div>
|
||
|
|
</figure><p>Where do you file an important update that covers two unrelated projects? What do you do with that same email if it requires a response?</p><p>The second mistake I’ve seen, and personally committed, is trying to use an inbox as a to-do list. There simply aren’t enough hours in the workday to respond to the emails that pile up there. Over time, precisely <em>because</em> of the way I was “organizing” my inbox, emails that I should’ve responded to got pushed further and further down, and were eventually forgotten.</p><p>The system that saved my sanity requires only five folders:</p><iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" height="175" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-avoid-inadvertently-being-a-bad-boss/id1393035987?i=1000561514664"></iframe></div><div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--mobilerectangle_2"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div><div><ol>
|
||
|
|
<li><span><strong>Inbox:</strong> the inbox is a holding pen. Emails shouldn’t stay here any longer than it takes for you to file them into another folder. The exception to this rule is when you respond <em>immediately</em> and are waiting for an <em>immediate</em> response.</span></li>
|
||
|
|
<li><span><strong>Today:</strong> Everything that requires a response today.</span></li>
|
||
|
|
<li><span><strong>This Week:</strong> Everything that requires a response before the end of the week.</span></li>
|
||
|
|
<li><span><strong>This Month/Quarter:</strong> – Everything that needs a longer-term response. Depending on your role, you many need a monthly folder. Others can operate on a quarterly basis.</span></li>
|
||
|
|
<li><span><strong>FYI:</strong> Most items I receive are informational. If I think I may need to reference an email again, I’ll save it to this folder.</span></li>
|
||
|
|
</ol><p></p><h4><a name="Show_No_Mercy" rel="nofollow">Show No Mercy</a></h4><p>Email will quickly become your master if you don’t take charge. So once you embrace this system, you need to adhere to it mercilessly–there are no half measures. We tend to get more lax about newly adopted habits as their newness rubs off. But I’ve actually gotten better over time at sticking to my five-folder rule. I’m ruthless about deleting emails that don’t require my attention. Here are five tips that make the system more effective.</p><aside class="pullquote"><q>Don’t confuse having an opinion with leadership, or mounting email volume with weightier job duties.</q></aside><p>First, I <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3062946/your-most-productive-self/this-100-year-old-to-do-list-hack-still-works-like-a-charm" target="_self" rel="nofollow">keep an actual to-do list</a>. Occasionally I’ll add items to that list based on the content of an email that <em>didn’t</em> require a response. For example, if an email thread results in deciding that we need to schedule a meeting, I’ll make a note to prep my boss with some information from those emails–but I’ll delete them once I’ve finished that prep session.</p></div><div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--mobileparallax_2"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div><div><p>Second, don’t exaggerate your own importance. Too many people want to have a say in too many things. We all have leadership aspirations–and that’s generally a good thing. One way to grow your influence is indeed by taking on more responsibility. But don’t confuse having an opinion with leadership, or mounting email volume with weightier job duties. If you don’t need to respond, put it in the “FYI” folder or delete it–it’s one or the other. And if you stay on “cc,” you’ll get the latest thread when everyone responds, so there’s no need to worry.</p><p>Third, don’t exaggerate the importance of others. A lot of people <em>want</em> responses today. I’m one of them. But I’ve learned that I don’t always <em>need</em> or <em>deserve</em> a response today. This is especially true if you have obligations that directly impact customers or your company’s financial health. Don’t put emails in the “Today” folder that don’t belong there; if it’s in the “Today” folder you <em>have</em> to respond to it that day, no exceptions.</p><p>My rule is simple: If my wife asked me to come home early and I was willing to leave emails in the “Today” folder, that doesn’t mean I need to blast through them once I get home–it means those emails didn’t belong in that folder to begin with. I try and limit “Today” emails to messages involving customers, my boss, and urgent projects.</p></div><div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--mobilerectangle_4"><div class="ad-wrapper--ad-unit-wrap"><div class="ad-wrapper__ad-slug">advertisement</div><div class="ad-unit ad-unit__border"></div></div></div></div><div><aside class="pullquote pull-right"><q>If your work is project-based, you can create this five-folder system for each project.</q></aside><p>Fourth, you can work out of multiple folders simultaneously. Try to keep the “Today” folder small, for obvious reasons. If it’s empty and you’ve got time to address longer-term emails, dive into the “This Week” folder. I typically spend my Friday mornings doing “This Week” emails. If I don’t have all the information I need, I may begin my response but save it as a draft, and hold off sending it until I’m all squared away.</p><p>Finally, if your work is project-based, you can create this five-folder system for each project. You may have two or
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<noscript><img src="//grunerandjahr.112.2o7.net/b/ss/gjincfastcoprod/1/H.24.4--NS/0/5658306" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;"></noscript>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<div id="parsely-root" style="display: none">
|
||
|
|
<span id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="fastcompany.com"></span>
|
||
|
|
</div>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</div><div id="linkedInBottomRibbon" class="fixed-bar--bottom"></div></body></html>
|