How would you handle not getting any?

Posted by Jim Stroud

November 30, 2006

Scott A. Dockter knew things were bad when he found himself e-mailing his assistant seated a few feet away. But it was more than his own e-mail habit that prompted the CEO of PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services in Alpharetta, Ga., to launch “no e-mail Fridays.”

He suspected that overdependence on e-mail at PBD, which offers services such as call-center management and distribution, was hurting productivity and perhaps sales. So in July, he instructed his 275 employees to pick up the phone or meet in person each Friday and to reduce e-mail use the rest of the time.

That was tough to digest, especially for younger staffers and some senior managers. “We discovered a lot of introverts . . . who had drifted into a pattern of communicating by e-mail,” Dockter says.

But in less than four months, the simple directive has resulted in quicker problem-solving, better teamwork and, best of all, happier customers. “Our relationship with PBD is much stronger,” says Cynthia Fitzpatrick of Crown Financial Ministries. “You can’t get to know someone through e-mail.”

Though the BlackBerry has become standard armor for executives, a few maverick leaders are taking action to reduce e-mail use.

READ: Just say no . . . to e-mail?

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