Over the last couple of weeks I’ve heard more about the death of e-mail and even saw an article where a local professor is eliminating e-mail altogether. Years ago I heard about the death of e-mail and it is as laughable a concept now as it was then.

Simply put, e-mail is the greatest invention of our time. Sure it’s use is changing with other tools for connection becoming more mainstream, and that is a good thing. I have believed for some time that social media is reducing spam and waste in e-mail. The jokes that people send around and the casual banter belongs on social media. I am seeing more value in social media now than I ever have and I just love Google +. However, in looking at my communication on social networks and on e-mail I find that they are totally separate.

My number one Network, or Circle, or Friend List is not connected with me on Google +, Facebook, or Twitter for the most part. I connect with my number one Network by phone and e-mail. Much of our communication is by e-mail because it is so incredibly efficient. Real business is done in person, by phone, and by e-mail. For the professor that has decided that he doesn’t need e-mail, I’m sure that will last until he gets an important e-mail that he doesn’t respond to. Sure he can take care of this by creating an auto response saying I no longer use e-mail so please connect with me on Facebook, or one that says you have to call me at whatever phone number. That’s a lot to try and set-up and make people deal with just so you can blow off the most efficient tool of our time.

E-mail is productive and perfect in that it allows you to communicate quickly with permanence. I don’t have to pull you out of a meeting to get something important to you and no time is wasted. You can answer as soon as you can and if you don’t delete it you have the perfect reminder to take care of it. Replying to old e-mails is the perfect reminder to the recipient of what subject we are on. You can handle more conversations and topics at one time on e-mail than you can with any other tool. The other tools are great and they will change how we use e-mail for the better. But don’t kid yourself. E-mail is here to stay.

Todd Kmiec

Todd Kmiec and Associates

www.toddkmiec.com

todd@toddkmiec.com