See also: Tame Your E-mail Monster Part 1) With so much “stuff” flying around cyber space, it is surprising that e-mails get read at all these days. It’s a constant battle for eye ball attention and even the most experienced mailer needs to work at making an impact. Training people in e-mail writing might seem a course too far, until you realise the sheer cost of mails that clog up both in-boxes and minds. “Off to lunch” can steal almost as much attention as a brief note from the MD. Complaints about e-mail overwhelm are common and it is hardly surprising that there is a growing trend for companies to offer a half day or a one day learning event along the lines of communicating in writing, writing with impact, or persuasive writing. Your e-mail is out of control if

• You are checking it: in church; during a family meal; while talking to someone else, in bed before you go to sleep
• It feels like you spend more time with your mails than with your family.
• You dread the sight of your in-box
• Your thumb aches
• Your inbox contains e-mails you have read and which sit there for days or weeks

Even highly experienced e-mailers seem to benefit from acquiring basic know-how. Here seven ways to tame the monster:

• Check your Deleted Folder. If you have more than a couple of dozen items delete them permanently. Create a STORE folder for stuff you really want to keep and don’t know where else to file.
• Unsubscribe to Google Alerts. It can eliminate 50+ mails a day.
• Delete all your empty, duplicate and obsolete e-mail folders.
• Unsubscribe to (if it’s not possible then block) most RSS and email feeds
• Stop constantly checking your mail. Every time you do so you lose focus and it takes time to fully return to the task you were doing previously. Check to a definite schedule.
• Most messages are not time-sensitive. Look for ways to divert these to a less urgent folder or to someone else! For example, have a look at Away-Find
• Take a deep breath before hitting the REPLY ALL button. It might save you an embarrassing screw up.

See also Write With Impact, in Secrets of Success in Management: 20 Ways to Survive and Thrive. What is your favourite e-mail tip? Please share it by writing a comment.