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Email Overload - Not At My Desk All Day
illuscat | Mar 26 2007
My problem is with communication. I'm an academic teaching at two different schools and working another job directing an educational program. I have three different workplaces and no office (except at home). Between my different roles, I get a lot of email and a good deal of voicemail in a given week. During the workday, I'm often in the classroom, in transit, or in seclusion, trying to get papers graded (I teach writing). Because of this, I'm admittedly hard to reach. I feel terrible for making people wait for my responses, and I worry that it causes my professional reputation to suffer, but unless I ignore my other duties, I just can't devote an hour or more each day to getting that inbox to empty. This is complicated by the fact that many things in my inbox are requests I might have to say no to. How do I respond to the 12th student this week to ask for a last-minute letter of recommendation when deep down, I know I don't have the time to do it? The result is that my email has become an unhappy, guilt-ridden place to visit, reminding me of all the people who probably think I have some somehow failed them. Then, even when I do have time, I just don't want to go there... Any suggestions? 10 Comments
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 Hi illuscat. I have a...Submitted by cornell on March 26, 2007 - 5:28pm.
Hi illuscat. I have a few suggestions. First, you'll need to get comfortable with your best response time, whatever you decide that is. One thing that helps is being clear about it to the people you collaborate with, including your students. For example, you might say in your email signature, vmail message, or syllabus that you have (say) a 48 hour response time. I think that doesn't reflect negatively (in fact, it may do the opposite - you're a smart, busy person, and can't respond right away to all inquiries). You can carry a cell phone for emergencies, and publish that for urgent business. Second, you *will* need to allocate an adequate amount of time to clear your inboxes. The only variables are a) how efficient you are at processing and organizing, and b) how much stuff you get. You can practice and get coaching for a), and work to limit b). Finally, getting comfortable saying 'no' is important. Find a way to say it nicely, but firmly. I like Mark Forster's "wholehearted" rule (only say "yes" when we can say it wholeheartedly - see http://www.markforster.net/wholehearted-living/). It's definitely uncomfortable disappointing people, though... Hope that helps. Resources: Depressurize your email with a 24 hour response time What's your maximum response time? academic coach: Email Addictions, parts I - III » POSTED IN:
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