• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

JD Meier

High Performance & Innovation Coach

  • Articles
  • Books
  • Courses
  • Resources
  • Coaching
  • About
  • Contact

Clear Your Inbox

by JD Meier

image

Today I helped a colleague clear their inbox. 

I’ve kept a zero mail inbox for a few years. 

I forgot this wasn’t common practice until a colleague said to me, “wow, your inbox doesn’t scroll.”

I didn’t learn the Zen of the zero mail inbox over night. 

Don’t Let Email Administration Get in the Way of Your Results

As pathetic as this sounds, I’ve actually compared email practices over the years with several people to find some of the best practices that work over time. 

The last thing I wanted to do was waste time in email, if there were better ways.  Some of my early managers also instilled in me that to be effective, I needed to master the basics. 

Put it another way, don’t let administration get in the way of results.

Key Steps for a Clear Inbox

My overall approach is to turn actions into next steps, and keep stuff I’ve seen, out of the way of my incoming mail. 

Here are the key steps: 

  1. Filter out everything that’s not directly to you.  To do so, create an inbox rule to remove everything that’s not directly To or CC you.  As an exception, I do let my immediate team aliases fall through.
  2. Create a folder for everything that’s read.  I have a folder to move everything I read and act on.  This is how I make way for incoming.
  3. Create a list for your actions.  Having a separate list means you can list the actions in the sequence that makes sense for you, versus let the sequence in your inbox drive you.

Part of the key is acting on mail versus shuffling it.  For a given mail, if I can act on it immediately, I do.  If now’s not the time, I add it to my list of actions.  If it will take a bit of time, then I drag it to my calendar and schedule the time.

Anti-Patterns

I think it’s important to note the anti-patterns:

  1. Using your inbox as a large collection of action and semi-action items with varying priorities
  2. Using your inbox as a pool of interspersed action and reference items
  3. Adopting complicated mail and task management systems

You Might Also Like

  • 30 Day Sprints for Personal Change
  • 40 Hour Work Week
  • Kanban for Personal Productivity
Category: Productivity

About JD Meier

I help leaders change the world.

Previous Post:40 Hour Work Week40 Hour Work Week at Microsoft (The Secret of High Performance Teams)
Next Post:The Secret of Time Management

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

About Me

JD I am J.D. Meier. I help leaders change the world. Learn more...

Popular Articles

10 Things Great Managers Do
10 Top Business Trends in 2023
40 Hour Work Week at Microsoft
Best Digital Transformation Books
How To Become an Innovator
How To Drive Digital Transformation
How To Lead High-Performance Teams
Innovation Explained
Satya Nadella Quotes
View More...

Become a better leader, innovate better, and achieve greater impact!

I help leaders change the world   As part of your journey, learn how to realize your potential in work and life through the power of creativity, imagination and creative vision. 

Topics

  • Innovation
  • Agile
  • Strategy
  • Leadership
  • Digital Transformation
  • High Performance

Copyright © 2023 · JD Meier · All Rights Reserved