Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

Merlin Mann of 43 Folders spoke to Google employees.

• Email shouldn't be like a fire that has to be put out
• Do not check email too often
• Check email just once per hour
• Do not leave email on all day
• Do not just "check" email
• Filter low level high noise emails so they go into your folders rather than into your inbox
• Don't overfilter
• Work on processing email for about 10 minutes only (if possible)
• Don't use email as your schedule - use folders
• Keep the number of folders manageable
  

He asks :"How can I have email become less noisy?"

One guy said he would be happy to try the checking once per hour, but that others expect you to check all the time - good point. I guess that could be worked out internally, but the external emails would be the problem. 

Also, in business you don't want to miss client orders, so that's somewhat different to an internal team environment. 

• What are your thoughts?
  
  
• Does your workplace offer email training?