Email is for information, not communication

A Cayman Islands aerogramme. I wrote and sent many of these after moving to Cayman in 1989!

Email is for information, not communication

I’ve found myself using this phrase more and more in 2020, and yes, I’m always learning, I used to be “that guy” who sent really long emails with multiple points in them. I may still do, please tell me when I err in that way.

So, today is Christmas Eve. If you email me between now and January 4th, you’ll get this response:

One thing that the pandemic has reinforced for me is a love for asynchronous communication in our “always on” world.

So, whilst zooming and whatsapping (sometimes) during “business hours”, I love emails as I can consider them when I choose to (well, that’s how I now look at emails). In short, don’t email me if you want an urgent response.

Now, I’m also putting this autoresponder on for the holiday period to emphasise this. I may look at emails during the holidays, I may not.

If you truly need to reach me, you know how to do it without email.

May you have a restful and recharging holiday season.

By the way, synchronous though it can be, please don’t WhatsApp me to communicate, to have a conversation. To communicate let’s speak, whether a Zoom, a phone call, or perhaps (and I do more and more of this) arrange a time where we can…