It’s time to talk about the most dangerous button in your inbox.
It’s not “Delete.” It’s not “Send.” It’s not even “Unsend” (Let’s be honest, “Unsend” is amazing.)
The dangerous button is REPLY ALL. Just one click of that button can turn a quiet day into a 67-message ping-fest about a wallet someone found in the parking lot.
“Reply All” emails are often well-intentioned, but they’re disruptive. Let’s work together to reduce digital noise and keep group email threads for true group business (or at least really good memes).
To poke fun at ourselves in the FSG Marketing and Communications office and to remind everyone to help stop the “Reply All” madness, we made a short video. It’s funny, the song is catchy, and it’s painfully accurate. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll never want to hit “Reply All” again. Give it a watch!
A few tips to keep your coworkers sane:
- If your response is meant for one person, only reply to one person. It sounds simple because it is simple.
- If the original email wasn’t meant for you, resist the urge to chime in. Not every “thanks!” needs a global stage.
- BCC is your friend. Sending to a large group? Use BCC. That way, no one gets tempted to start an accidental email flash mob.
If you’re not sure whether to choose “Reply” or “Reply All” — default to “Reply.”
Trust your gut. And remember, your gut is tired of receiving 43 irrelevant emails. 🙂
Thanks for helping us keep email communication at FSG clear, courteous, and under control. Now go forth and reply responsibly!
Posts on FSG Resources are all about celebrating you! If you’ve got a story to share, whether it’s a big win for your team, a personal milestone worth sharing, or a coworker you want to celebrate, shoot me an email at [email protected] so we can keep spotlighting what makes FSG great.
– Scott Delony, Communications Manager