Rules of The Road

Solving time management needs for online resources on a personal level doesn't conclusively address the bigger picture of functional (or dysfunctional) use of telecommunications.  Effective utilization of E-mail for both business and personal functions extends beyond strategies that relieve the congestion of the inbox.  Because E-mail directly connects to the world at large, there are certain caveats and conventions that should be observed to better protect all E-mail correspondents.

Effective use of rules of the road for E-mail requires using common sense and self-discipline.  Charles Bermant, a writer for the Seattle Times, offers a thoughtful list of E-mail etiquette rules for online communication:

• Guard your E-mail address

• Get a Web based mailbox (e.g., hotmail)

• Don't share messages with shocking content

• Value your message (don't communicate excessively)

• Don't use the priority tag

• Don't reveal too much

• Respect the recipient

• Pay attention to (and effectively use) the "cc" and "re" lines

• Don't forward canned messages

• Say thank you

For a complete and unedited listing of E-mail Etiquette, access http://seattletimes.nwsource.com under "Personal Technology."²

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Citation Number: Vol. 2, No. 2, Page 075