Do hammers fail? How about pens? No, of course not. People may fail to use a hammer or a pen properly or effectively, but the tool itself cannot fail. The same it is with email.

The world is (unfortunately) still learning how to use email. Many people still don’t know how to use it and most have no control over it. Quite the contrary, their email controls them.

Aside from unsolicited sales emails that can rightfully be ignored, if you don’t respond to a colleague’s email, you are essentially ignoring him or her. You wouldn’t do that in a crowded room, face to face, so why do you think your disorganized workflow makes it permissable just because there are computers between you?

A poor worker blames his tools.

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