E-Mail Tip 16: Tracking the Response.

Of course sending a polite, well expressed, concise mail (tips 1, 2, 5, 9, 10 below)  is only the start. Will they respond? We of course don't expect an immediate response (tip 12) but we do need an answer. 

A popular option is to have no tracking mechanism and hope. This sadly (not everybody is as professional as you) can leave you exposed. Another route taken by many is to cc a request mail back to self. This has two disadvantages: firstly it is clogging the in-box and secondly it is allowing your in-box to be your driver. Instead, note when to follow up that mail on your master list. The latter is your flight-deck: your definitive list of what you have to do, want to do work and home.

TBC

In the meantime: 

1. How To Lessen E-mail Pain, free download.
2. The Business Skills Collection: fast, pragmatic, budget amazon e-read.

Plus:

• Tip 1: Keep it Short
• Tip 2: Don't cc
• Tip 3: Don't send a mail
• Tip 4: Batch Process
• Tip 5: What Do you Want?
• Tip 6: Days Without
• Tip 7: Dig Deeper
• Tip 8: Don't Do It First
• Tip 9: Make 'no action' easy.
• Tip 10: Stop the Cascade
• Tip 11: Let Go of Reptile Brain
• Tip 12: Let Them Know You're On It
• Tip 13: Get to Zero
• Tip 14: Only 3 Possibilities
• Tip 15: Categories, hierarchical.