auto-reply agony | June 19, 2009

Time management coaches advise using auto-replies stating you check your email 3x/day [not every 30 seconds] to gently train your recipient away from a ‘must hear back from you immediately’ mentality. Clients and colleagues beg you to remove it. How to please them all? When initiating a relationship share your ‘scope of work’ includes replying within 24 hours during xyz business hours. Without clear communication gray areas swell to the 24/7 workload complex. Gentle boundaries are an effective part of conveying your personal brand. Your clients are cared for and you retain work life balance.