e-dreaming

I've been doing email for so long now that I almost can't remember NOT doing it.  I check it first thing every morning, and (sadly) it's often the last thing I do at night.  Worse than that though, it's become something I do all day long.  Like many people, I've gone from checking my email a few times a day... to a few times an hour... to even constantly throughout the day.  I process hundreds of emails every day, many within seconds or minutes of the time they were sent.  Now THERE'S an accomplishment for you!  I've become a slave to email.

Email is a great way of staying in touch with folks, and even manage the increased volume of communications.  Today's email applications allow quick searches and organizational tools that make thousands or tens of thousands of emails instantly retrievable.  We now have browser-based email applications as well as cell phone-based email clients... so now, we can access email from anywhere, anytime.  It is just amazing!  I can now get my email "fix" 24x7. Quite literally.

One of the changes in business is that many, if not most, have become as addicted to email as I have, and have begun to EXPECT others to be immediate with their email processing.  That can prove to be very awkward, especially when there's someone in the loop that is actually being (what I will at least for the moment call) "smart" and only processing email a few times a day.  One of the worst habits that has taken place, even within 30dps, is that we now use email when a five second walk across the hall or aisle, and a three minute discussion would be much more efficient, more personal, more accurate, and more meaningful.  It is like pulling teeth to get some folks to pick up the phone and CALL someone these days, as we'd always rather just send an email.  And I get that, and have even defended it myself.  I mean, I have a perfect audit trail of the communications.  And I can be more careful and thoughtful with my words.  Oh, and I can control the amount of time I spend doing it, and don't get sucked into a long phone conversation.  RIGHT!

Okay, does anyone know anyone who has not COMPLETELY blown a relationship because they'd counted on email to sustain it, rather than using face-to-face or phone calls.  I've certainly had more than my share.  To say nothing of the number of times I've been a complete jerk in email, and would have been much more in control if I'd been looking the other person in the face.  Oh, and let's not forget the accidental forward, in which you forget that someone's less than flattering comment or confidential discussion is somewhere in the email thread, and it gets into the wrong hands.  It can all be a nightmare!  I wonder how much work would get done, and how many relationships would be saved (business and personal) if we didn't rely so heavily on email?

Even as I write this, I'm commited to reducing my dependence upon email, and will encourage others to do the same.  After all, there's always text messaging...