V.C. Müller
E-Mail Charter
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Email Charter: Respect Your Recipients

[This charter was adapted from emailcharter.org, which is no longer available (as of March 2017). Thanks to https://www.kent.ac.uk/itservices/email/emailcharter.html.]

We can help reverse the problems of email overload. Are you in? Be part of the solution not the problem!

1. Be brief and clear

Make clear what you want. Make your email easy to read. Use a clear subject line. Short is not rude.
Use some plain English tips to save others time AND make your communication more effective.

2. Do all recipients need this mail? Slash CC

Only CC someone who really needs this message.
Think hard before using 'Reply all'.

3. Reduce attachments

Send only attachments that are needed.
Don't use images like logos in your signature - they come as attachments that people will try to open. Don't attach text if it's possible to write it in the email. 

4. Reply only if you need to and when you need to

It's not good to reply to every email.

Don't feel you need to give an instant response and don't expect to get one. If this is urgent, use phone-messages or call.

5. Spend less time on e-mail

If we all agree to spend less time doing email, we'll all get less email! Can you calendar half-days for email-free working? Have email-free evenings, weekends, holidays. Have a 'footer' that references this charter - but don't spam people with 'auto-response'.

And don't forget to smell the roses.