Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
What are your thoughts on the email authors that start an email and let the thread get deeper and deeper.
I personally feel that email threads needs to stop at 5 deep. Call a meeting already to discuss the issue or start a new email to recap all the prior madness and make a copy of the original email that started the deep thread and attach that email for reference in the new email. Saving Changes...
First off, I discourage email communication on my projects. Email messages are only to inform about an event, a file, project news, etc. It is to be used only as a notifying tool.
I ask that all communication be moved to our collaboration platform. Here, any communication is open and transparent and visible to all participants. It really makes participants focus on their message.
Also, communication is contextual on collaboration platforms. Any queries on the project plan? Leave a comment on the URL where it is attached. Any observations on the product backlog? Leave a comment on that specific URL.
But, alas, the endless email threads still do happen. I try and have it moved to a call ASAP. I have found myself writing, on multiple occasions, "No more email on this topic, please.". Saving Changes...
Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
Great feedback gang!
Let's do our part to nip potential endless email threads in the bud when possible. Speaking from experience they are so unproductive and waste your valuable time reading all the responses to find out what exactly is going on now. Saving Changes...
Thank you Drake for this thread it’s very crucial one! I completely agree with your suggestion ‘email stop at 5’. I was searching for ‘saga’ prior to starting a new discussion and this thread came out, to be specific it would have picked up Kiron’s comments (love it too!). And so as my point is slightly different context, I have quoted this link as reference to my discussion https://www.projectmanagement.com/discussi...-what-a-saga--- It’s great to have thoughts and learn from the experienced thank you all! Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
It becomes specially annoying when the option to include the e-mail signature is active and thus the signature shows up in most of e-mails, making the reading a lot more difficult.
A way to stop the non-sense is to add a line at the end of the e-mail (let's say e-mail number 3), "for further discussion or clarification, please call or schedule an ad-hoc meeting". Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Like my projects, I always tailor my emails. I might remove some of the past thread. I might change the subject, when warranted. I might even remove people from the distribution.
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1 reply by Janice Grier
Oct 04, 2019 2:20 PM
Janice Grier
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I agree here. As long as the email is moving in the right direction I will remove people from the distribution and/or update subject line.
Saving Changes...
James ShieldsIS Director - Portfolio Solutions| City and County of San Francisco, SFPDSan Francisco, Ca, United States
This is like trying to solve World Hunger.
Unless you can find a way to set rules with community buy-in, there will be those who feel the need to add a word or two to the topic at-hand without considering if it is necessary (whatever your definition of necessary is).
It happens all over the place … e-mail, discussion boards, social media platforms, etc. It's the fine line between participation/expression vs. determining exactly what is 'too much'. Trying to govern it is a very slippery slope. Saving Changes...
Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Apr 08, 2018 9:30 AM
Replying to Drew Craig
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My favorite is when you’re included 15 messages in and there is this gigantic book of back and forth to read through and assemble. :)
That is the worse and it happens waaaay too often Saving Changes...
Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
What I tend to do is if I find that the topic discussed is not the same as the subject line anymore I would change the subject line to something relevant and start a new thread, even if it is not my thread. Most people just do not get it so I will do it for them.
And as Andrew pointed out, getting pulled in a few levels in is so annoying and counterproductive really. Saving Changes...
I agree with others .An email thread is a group of related email messages comprised of replies or forwards of the original email.
If it is going to endless , it should be stop and go for face to face meeting or con call . Saving Changes...
LORI WILSONRETIRED - Technical Project Manager| RETIRED - LifePoint HealthClarkston, Wa, United States
Thanks for bringing up this subject. This happens on a daily basis and I am going to be more mindful of my part to play going forward. I will stop e-mails at 5, ensure the subject lines remain accurate and remove my signature line if already shown once. Sometimes it is just easier to respond when juggling so much, but I can do better and vow to take this on! Saving Changes...
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