Thinking Outside the Inbox: Email Tips

Email drives business, yet it also drives most of us crazy. 

If this is the year you want to take control of your email, here are some steps you can take: 

• Consider using a non-email program for in-office communications, like Slack. This will mean that your inbox can become "mission-critical," where you receive only messages from clients and colleagues, while your staff and associate messages filter to another media. Slack offers a free plan. 
• Use rules to push less important email out of sight. Set up email rules that will filter advertisements to a subfolder that you can look at when you’re ready and so that those message don’t invade your inbox. Gmail also has a built-in "Promotions" inbox. You can also utilize your junk email filter to better manage unwanted messages. 
• Use a law practice management software that will integrate with your productivity software to archive your emails. That way you won’t have to save everything in a bursting inbox or strain your PST file, if you’re still using premise-based software. 
• Try an email management add-on, like Sanebox, which offers more features for organization than come out of the box in standard email clients. 
• Think about applying an email management system, like GTD so you can make quick decisions in your inbox, keep it uncluttered and turn response management into a task list. 

If your organization methods are only adding to the clutter, we can help. 

The IndyBar offers FREE law practice management consulting services for Practice Builder subscribers and IndyBar members through Red Cave Law Firm Consulting. To request a consult, visit the IndyBar law practice management consulting landing page, and start running your law firm like a business.