Time Block and Email Etiquette
One of the more challenging aspects of traveling and working is planning out your day. In order to enjoy your "workation" you need to be able to avoid mixing fun and work during the day. (Essentially sitting at the beach or exploring a new city but always checking your email and putting out fires at the same time.) This is the worse thing you can do because you are not effective working and you won't enjoy your time being distracted. Here are some guidelines you need to setup and stick to:
1. Time Block 2-3 hours in the early morning. Unfortunately, working remote requires you to be disciplined on keeping a schedule. You can accomplish a lot more than you think in the morning. First put on any fires and remind people you won't be back online until later in the day (or whenever you time block). Send out all emails to people you need to delegate work and include in your email when you will be available to respond. The last thing you want to do is email a bunch of tasks to people and they respond immediately with more questions that are left unanswered all day. Be clear you are not available and give them clear direction.
2. Format your emails as Task lists. Email as a business communication can be misused and hinder not help working remote. The key is following some simple rules in email etiquette. Here are mine:
A. An email should be like a to-do list. Each item being numbered. Provide a clear expectation, priority, who's responsible and deadline for each item. This way you avoid any dumb questions like "which is most important?" Or "when do you need it by?".
If there are questions they should reply inline with each item. So it's easy to follow. Avoid long paragraphs and clumping of issues or questions. Bullet everything.
You can use this format:
1. To-Do item
A. Expection
B. Who is responsible
C. Deadline
D. Priority
B. An email should also include a standard footer (when working remote) that outlines the general rules.of engagement. For example this:
REMINDER: I am currently working remote. I will have limited access to email. Any questions should be directed to xxxx@ccc.com or expect a response from me the following morning. Please make sure any internal communications are sent as a list of items each day, so I can expedite the answers.
The goal here is that when you need to check email you can quickly go thru each item, respond and keep lines of communication clear and moving. The biggest enemy to living the life of Pacho is poor communication.
1. Time Block 2-3 hours in the early morning. Unfortunately, working remote requires you to be disciplined on keeping a schedule. You can accomplish a lot more than you think in the morning. First put on any fires and remind people you won't be back online until later in the day (or whenever you time block). Send out all emails to people you need to delegate work and include in your email when you will be available to respond. The last thing you want to do is email a bunch of tasks to people and they respond immediately with more questions that are left unanswered all day. Be clear you are not available and give them clear direction.
2. Format your emails as Task lists. Email as a business communication can be misused and hinder not help working remote. The key is following some simple rules in email etiquette. Here are mine:
A. An email should be like a to-do list. Each item being numbered. Provide a clear expectation, priority, who's responsible and deadline for each item. This way you avoid any dumb questions like "which is most important?" Or "when do you need it by?".
If there are questions they should reply inline with each item. So it's easy to follow. Avoid long paragraphs and clumping of issues or questions. Bullet everything.
You can use this format:
1. To-Do item
A. Expection
B. Who is responsible
C. Deadline
D. Priority
B. An email should also include a standard footer (when working remote) that outlines the general rules.of engagement. For example this:
REMINDER: I am currently working remote. I will have limited access to email. Any questions should be directed to xxxx@ccc.com or expect a response from me the following morning. Please make sure any internal communications are sent as a list of items each day, so I can expedite the answers.
The goal here is that when you need to check email you can quickly go thru each item, respond and keep lines of communication clear and moving. The biggest enemy to living the life of Pacho is poor communication.
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