Engaged Learning

Goodbye Email – Week 3 – A Confession

Sep 30, 2008 Email

Confession:  I am using you. As if it wasn’t obvious, but I am.  Each time I start to send an email I think, “Oh no.  That will be one more way and I have to report it out.  Isn’t there some other way to do this.  A better way?”  So the fear of reporting out a high number to you, of faithful mentor, helps remind me to use another – better – way.

Keeping it low.  1/2 to 1/3 less.  This makes me happy.  Not my lowest, but close.

What am I doing differently?

1. I use Twitter more.
2. I actually pick up the phone or walk to someone’s desk.
3. In order to avoid email I find that I need to complete another couple extra steps – be a little more prepared – and then message someone through a wiki or blog or forum.  This causes me to be on top of things a bit more than I previously would have.
4. I wait and either let it pass (and ignore it) or let it play out before acknowledging it.  This has proven very helpful.  Instead of jumping in on things, I let others try to work them out.  If they go astray I can jump in, but I don’t NEED to.
5. I use IM more (now I might need to get an unlimited IM plan on my phone   )

It isn’t a habit yet. It needs to get to that point where email is not my default mode of conversation.

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Tags: Email