Stephanie GrahamVP of Strategy| BankOnITOklahoma City, Ok, United States
I usually aim for Monday or Tuesday - earlier in the week. My work starts an hour earlier than a lot of the members of my team so I use that to gather the information and updates and send them out.
I usually chase the emails with in person or over the phone conversation which takes place Monday afternoon-Wednesday depending on needs.
I will add that i use Friday afternoon as a "great job - this is where we've gotten" type of communication.
The worst day would be Sunday, or perhaps Saturday in Israel. Since most people are connected to work 24x7, think twice before sending something on the weekend or after midnight. If you interrupt someone's rest with routine matters, they might not think kindly of you. The same can be said of various holiday, both religious and secular.
That said, I know many of us PMs need to work on weekends to catch up on responsibilities that may have slid during the week. In my opinion, it's better to save those mails as Draft and send them first thing Monday. Saving Changes...
Justin WortleyProject Manager| Quicken LoansDetroit, Mi, United States
I prefer to send out all "context critical" but not "time-sensitive" emails on Monday between 10-11 AM. These are emails that people *need* to read, but might not have an immediate timeframe on having them read it. Things like status updates, and responses to inquiries, etc. This way most people have gotten their Monday morning emails/coffee out of the way and it's before lunch and you can be sure you get the necessary eyeballs on the content of your email.
...
1 reply by George Lewis
Jul 06, 2016 3:13 AM
George Lewis
...
Justin - You made me think of two additional questions, what's the best and worst time of the day to send it out.
Saving Changes...
William M Hayden JrAdjunct Assistant Professor| University at Buffalo, School of Management, Operations Management & StrategyBuffalo, Ny, United States
Someone asked offline: "I did not understand your response, could you clarify?"
The post was "Perhaps a more important question might be, "When did we decide that "sending" an email at any time on any day was "Communication?"
It has been my observation that as internet access and wireless connectivity increased, basic tenets of "Communication" were set aside, replaced with 'click/send.'
e.g., When PMs are asked did they get "the message" to the client, some respond "Yes, and I have the "Fax-sent receipt" to prove it! Really?
Communication is an ongoing process, and to attempt to capture it by decidng on "The Best Day" to send an email works, in part, if and only if the recipient has previously agreed to this, and then acknowledges its receipt and understanding of its message.
Of course, I could be wrong.
Cheers,
Bill Saving Changes...
Very Interesting George - Thanks for sharing ! Saving Changes...
Cynthia ClarkProgram Manager| Dish NetworkCentennial, Co, United States
I avoid sending out calendar invites for Monday morning on a Friday. I also avoid sending out instructional documents on a Friday, as I want them to be seen right away, and not have to wade through a ton of other email before they get to mine.
It's best to send out items in the morning of any given day that need immediate attention. If I need someone to get back to me by a certain day or time, I put that in the subject line, then add a reminder for them to the email prior to that deadline.
Notes can be sent out at any time of the day. Saving Changes...
Cynthia ClarkProgram Manager| Dish NetworkCentennial, Co, United States
Jul 04, 2016 11:29 AM
Replying to William M Hayden Jr
...
Perhaps a more important question might be, "When did we decide that "sending" an email at any time on any day was "Communication?"
Cheers,
Bill
In my workplace, sending an email is one form of communication, and an expected form to receive updates, notes to meetings, calendar invites, instructions. notifications on actions performed and additional actions expected, and information on upcoming scheduled events. Because we have a limit to the size of our individual email boxes, we do not spend much time sending jokes back and forth. Saving Changes...
Larry MinerFounder and Sr. Project Management of Decision Memory Systems| Decision Memory SystemsBath, Oh, United States
I try to communicate based on the particular team and then the team members in them. This has worked for just a few people or 50 +. I pay attention to when I believe they read their email, or ask politely first if they have a minute, or I can see them at their desk, a half a world away, using IM lighting up as a reference point or know that they read theirs emails later in the evening or Sunday nights. Generally my aim is to get a response, an effort an action, as quickly as possible. On occasion if I get really pushy I'll email and then ask them via IM to check their email. Doubling up was a regular practice at HP.
...
1 reply by George Lewis
Jul 06, 2016 3:09 AM
George Lewis
...
Larry - got to your point.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I don't usually have specific days for regular communication. I do, however, avoid recurring meetings on Mondays and Fridays.
There is anecdotal evidence that support the idea of not giving bad news right before a weekend.
...
1 reply by John Herman
Jul 11, 2016 10:11 AM
John Herman
...
There is also significant evidence that many important business decisions are made on Fridays, so that people can go into the weekend with a clear (or clearer) mind. Even if the decision isn't made public until the following week, we need to be aware that Fridays are often Decision Days.
Saving Changes...
DARCY COFFINSystems Analyst / Project Manager| ContractorClover, Sc, United States
I'm thinking it depends on the message. I LOVE getting regular messages that require brain-time on a Friday morning with no expectation of a response until the following week.... It gives me all weekend to do sleep-and-shower processing... just let the brain do its job... Saving Changes...
Community Champion
