Deep Questions with Cal Newport cover image

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 289: The Email Catastrophe

Feb 26, 2024
Explore the evolution of email and its impact on communication efficiency, with insights on managing email overload in government jobs and coding environments. Learn about redefining productivity in academia, embracing seasonal work patterns, and enhancing workplace efficiency through process-oriented emailing.
01:31:58

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Quick takeaways

  • Reduce unscheduled emails by focusing on process-oriented messaging in a government job.
  • Streamline collaboration by identifying high-volume email exchanges and implementing structured communication methods.

Deep dives

Reducing Unscheduled Messages for Better Collaboration

To manage a hyperactive hive mind within a government agency, focus on reducing unscheduled messages that require a reply. Shift the metric to measure success from simply reducing email to minimizing unscheduled replies. Implement process-oriented emailing, where you craft messages thoughtfully to preempt additional back-and-forth. Look for opportunities to schedule in-person or structured collaboration sessions to replace unscheduled email exchanges, reducing the overall dependency on constant messaging and minimizing interruptions.

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