Political E-mail CCing

[jon h]

Grrrrrrrr.... it is really getting on my nerves!

You know the sort of thing: A collegue wants me to do something. They make the request via e-mail, because they cannot be arsed to walk 20 metres to my office and discuss it in person. Well, OK, I accept I may be out of the office some of the time. But why CC the mail to the boss too? He does not want to know about every request between departments, we are just getting on with our jobs. Oh, and if you must communicate via e-mail, why write in the style of a semi-literate 9 year old??! ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!

.....aaaaaand relax.

Sorry. I just needed to get that off my chest.

Jon H

[chrisgr31]

c.c.ing the boss is done to show that the sender is doing something, and of course if the receiver hasn't actioned it in about 30 seconds they are doing nothing.

Really all it is is brown nosing

[gh0st]

chrisgr31 said:

c.c.ing the boss is done to show that the sender is doing something, and of course if the receiver hasn't actioned it in about 30 seconds they are doing nothing. Really all it is is brown nosing

Just moved to another contract within my firm because the "senior" engineer who used to do nothing but mess things up and surf ebay all day used to constantly CC the boss in for even stupid things...

As far as I know they are probably having sex with each other in a meeting pod. dont care as I get to play on warships and submarines now

[sadako]

Also communicating via email leaves an audit trail. If you communicate by phone it is not autited. Any company or department wanting to do something on the QT will ask you to ring and not email. It really winds them up if while on the call you end it with "confirmation should have arrived in your email inbox" especially if they are trying something on.

[birdbrain]

I have to admit to copying someone's manager on emails sometimes. Mainly because that way I can be sure that whatever it is will be done and the person can't deny receiving it. I try not to do it too often though and certainly not for every little thing.

[JonRB]

sadako said:

Also communicating via email leaves an audit trail.

Absolutely.

If I'm agreeing something with another engineer that means the work distribution is changing (especially if I'm going to be doing some of his workload) then I'll confirm it in an email CC'd to the Line Manager and/or the person maintaining the project plan.
It keeps the plan correct and everyone informed, but more to the point it covers my arse.

I guess that whether or not you like this sort of thing depends on whether it is working for or angainst you.

[srebbe64]

I've increased productivity in my company by 'banning all internal emails', unless it is essential (transfer of data, etc). I watched a bloke spend 5 minutes writing an email, and he could have spent one minute on the phone.

The ruling is: "managing by email is lazy and should be avoided".

Guess what? People have learnt to talk again, relationships are being built, snide CC's have stopped, less misunderstandings between staff - there is no downside!



>> Edited by srebbe64 on Thursday 23 December 15:46

[lanciachris]

I noted such CCings in my company. So i wandered over and asked person who was doing the CCing to not do it unless there was a good reason.

No problems since. What a dull story

[bouffy]

srebbe64 said:

I've increased productivity in my company by 'banning all internal emails', unless it is essential (transfer of data, etc). I watched a bloke spend 5 minutes writing an email, and he could have spent one minute on the phone. The ruling is: "managing by email is lazy and should be avoided". Guess what? People have learnt to talk again, relationships are being built, snide CC's have stopped, less misunderstandings between staff - there is no downside! >> Edited by srebbe64 on Thursday 23 December 15:46

...which is exactly what John Cauldwell (Phones 4 U etc owner) did. Same result.

[Davel]

I was once a logistics manager for a large white goods manufacturer and with factories in several places in europe.

I was always amazed just how much time people wasted typing memos etc, and copying various people, all to cover their backs and to be seen to be achieving something when in fact they were wasting at least 50% of their time trying to protect themselves in their work environment.

e-mail wasn't an option then...

[srebbe64]

bouffy said:

srebbe64 said: I've increased productivity in my company by 'banning all internal emails', unless it is essential (transfer of data, etc). I watched a bloke spend 5 minutes writing an email, and he could have spent one minute on the phone. The ruling is: "managing by email is lazy and should be avoided". Guess what? People have learnt to talk again, relationships are being built, snide CC's have stopped, less misunderstandings between staff - there is no downside! >> Edited by srebbe64 on Thursday 23 December 15:46 ...which is exactly what John Cauldwell (Phones 4 U etc owner) did. Same result.

Interesting - best thing I ever did. It wasn't just a small improvement, it was very significant! Everybody seems that 'little bit happier'.

[matthewbinns]

bouffy said:

...which is exactly what John Cauldwell (Phones 4 U etc owner) did.

JC is well known for being an absolute w*nker to work for.