E-mail has transformed how we communicate in the modern world. If you challenged someone in 1990 to send a detailed memo to multiple people located all over the world, their choices were limited. Most would have produced a paper letter, made photocopies and mailed/posted it to the actual addresses. Others would have faxed that letter to those who were in a position to receive it. Others still would have used a contraption called the telex (remember that?!). Only a few early adopters would have been in a position to use e-mail. How the world has changed.

E-mail is now ubiquitous and is the primary means of business communication. Even text messaging, the little cousin of e-mail, is converging on the same space with the unstoppable progress in wireless networks and devices. Alas, despite all of the wonderful opportunities for communication and the potential for massive business efficiencies, many knowledge workers are crumbling under the strain of ‘managing their e-mail’.

Just reflect on these common observations:

• Many lamenting the thousands of e-mails in their in-boxes
• “I hate going away because when I come back I just have so many e-mails to deal with”
• “Hang on, I just need to check my e-mail”
• “What do you mean you don’t know? You were copied on that e-mail!”
• An e-mail that requires your action but is titled “Re: Fw:fwd:FW:something irrelevant and meaningless”
• How trust diminishes when someone doesn’t reply to a specific e-mail - “maybe they’re angry, or don’t like me?”

Mastering your e-mail is a critical skill for all knowledge workers. Olympians have critical skills that are crucial to success in their sport. They work on these skills repeatedly so that they become as good as they can be. Proficiency in key skills adds up to overall effectiveness and ultimately success in competitions. For knowledge workers, the same principle applies. Mastering e-mail is a key skill, without which overall success will be hindered.

Over the next ten weeks, I will share ten keys to mastering e-mail. These are largely drawn from personal experience over the last decade, coupled with a lot of experimentation and research. Implementing some of these ideas and principles will result in increased feelings of control, less time spent in a state of frustration and greater emphasis on achieving your main objectives. Now, who wouldn’t want some of that?!