all quiet on the e-quiet front

It's been awhile since our last post.   Here's some advice from the 'experts', a piece called "Don't Start The Day by Answering Your Email".

e-quiet - update

Continues to be a challenge to go completely e-quiet on Wednesdays, but when I'm able to do so, a lot more gets accomplished.  It's a good discipline.

Pico Iyer writes in NY Times on "The Joy of Quiet"

"About a year ago, I flew to Singapore to join the writer Malcolm Gladwell, the fashion designer Marc Ecko and the graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister in addressing a group of advertising people on “Marketing to the Child of Tomorrow.” Soon after I arrived, the chief executive of the agency that had invited us took me aside. What he was most interested in, he began — I braced myself for mention of some next-generation stealth campaign — was stillness"  Read the rest of Pico's December 29th, 2011 posting in the NY Times here: The Joy of Quiet, blog post by Pico Iyer

More e-quiet tips

The day of going e-quiet (in my case, Wednesdays), I check email in the morning usually between 08h00 - 09h00 in order not to miss any urgent emails.  I find more and more people are initially 'struck by the novelty' of picking up the phone and are happy to call. I'm dealing with people across North America (and Asia) but most of them have long-distance plans so there's little or no cost to the call.

Before going e-quiet for the day, some tips

The day before going e-quiet on Wednesdays, I send people who have appointments that day a quick re-confirmation and mention they can reach me ahead of time by phone or Skype if need be.

People ask why I chose Wednesday & more on going e-quiet

Wednesday just happens to work best for me. A lot of people might choose Thursday or Friday. It depends on whether you deal with people overseas. These days I'm finding so many people are overloaded by their Inbox they don't really digest written messages completely, even if the note is only a couple of lines.  In many cases it's a lot more efficient to just pick the phone and speak with someone. 

Managing expectations on email response time

Letting colleagues know you're looking at going e-quiet one day a week is the key to success. Putting something on your email signature helps.  It's also good to say you're still available by phone or Skype.  (Or, wonder of wonders, if they're in the same office, to actually walk over and speak in person). 

It's not easy to stick to an e-quiet day but makes a big difference

It's not easy at first to go completely e-quiet for a full working day. I look at what's "gathering" in the Inbox and if there's something really time-sensitive, will reply. The key is to make sure people understand you're still available, just preferably not by email.  My regular email signature says "e-quiet on Wednesdays but available by phone or Skype."

Tomorrow (Wed.) will be my sixth e-quiet Wednesday

It's working.  Reminding the 'little grey cells' the afternoon before taking your e-quiet day helps, so you're not in a pickle on Wednesday morning (my e-quiet day is Wednesday).  Made and received more phone calls over the past 5 Wednesdays than in the past three months, what a novelty, using the phone.  Or Skype.

e-quiet day (week Five)

Last Wednesday I weakened and had to send a couple of emails.  So today I'll aim to be e-quiet between 09h00 and 17h00.  Let's see how it works out. 

Third e-Quiet Wednesday starts now

Looking forward to today:  my third e-quiet Wednesday.  Amazing how much can be done on a day without email.

Wednesdays work well

Everyone's different but mid-week balance, Wednesday, seems to be an ideal day to go quiet with email.

Second e-quiet day is here

Here we are at the start of my second e-quiet day. I've already broken my own rule and sent an email this morning, but will endeavour now to go e-quiet. Last week, the 1st e-quiet day, I got so much done it was a refreshing change of pace.
 

The idea is still to be available, but by phone (or Skype)

Some of us are so engrossed in our email, talking about going e-quiet one day a week evokes images of being out of the loop. On my e-quiet days I'm  in touch by Skype or old-fashioned landline.

Halfway through e-quiet day, so far, so good

So far response has been good with colleagues and friends (at least the ones I've been able to give the heads-up) thinking it's a great idea. Everyone seems to like the concept of going e-quiet once in awhile.  If your work makes it impractical to select one day a week, then even choosing one day a month can help.

Tuesday, 9th November . . . 24 hours to go

Yesterday someone said when they heard I was going e-quiet, "It's all about managing expectations". So true, up 'til I've been a quick-responder to email since I love(d) the technology, but now if people email and don't hear back within a day or so . . .I feel like I'm running behind.

Getting Ready for 1st e-quiet Wednesday

Looking forward to my first e-quiet Wednesday, coming up soon. 

Let's see if people who normally email will telephone.

Go e-quiet, choose your day

I'm going e-quiet on Wednesdays but can be reached by phone. Choose your day to go e-quiet.  Pass it on! Thanks to Kimberly for inspiring the idea.