Today's Lesson: Email Urgency

Scenario:
An email is received requesting "something" to be done ASAP. You have several "Top Priority" issues that you are trying to complete already for a top executive. The email has some urgent warning signs in it though...

Background:
Sender usually specifies a time frame/deadline. The "something" is not typically due for 3 more days. The sender is from Operations, you are Corporate in a different time zone, so reaching them is not exactly convenient.

What should be done?
Well, thankfully, it wasn't me in this scenario! The person who did receive this email did a brief follow-up, received no response, and put it on their "mid-priority" list. Which apparently was definitely NOT the correct course of action.

The Lesson:
When in doubt, you need to follow up to get all the facts and clarification on the level of urgency, and stay on it like your kid brother during summer break.

Your Employees Are Dying to Be Heard

Written by Carmine Gallo at Business Week
"According to Opinion Research (IUSA) in Princeton, N.J., a firm that has conducted research for about 60 years, what annoys employees more than anything else is poor communication. And unhappy employees can do more damage to your business than you might imagine. Opinion Research practice director Terry Reilly says that beyond delivering shoddy customer service, disgruntled employees are less likely to recommend your company as a great place to work, which will hurt recruitment efforts. Reilly says communication can be the Achilles' heel of your organization or it can be the centerpiece.

Here's what Reilly recommends to improve communication between management and employees."
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