TO EMAIL OR NOT TO EMAIL - The EAs in Education Experience
After writing my initial article about email TO EMAIL OR NOT TO EMAIL - That is the question! I received a great deal of feedback from network members. So in modelling curiosity as a key character trait and one of our strategic learning aims, I decided to explore further, putting various questions to our network. Before long over a quarter of our collective responded to this opportunity to share their thoughts on email! Can I say this was amazing given the time of term. Our members are just the best!
The responses were really enlightening and this is a topic to explore further, as despite changes in communication and the ways schools manage emails, it is clear that our profession remains really dependent on email. Why so? Well its quick and convenient, but also a really good way to contact someone, such as a Principal, who you may not get to speak to at the same rapid pace. It's clear that alot of Principals have a named address which can be readily deciphered and also a principal@ address. This in itself raises questions.
So out of curiosity, what did we learn from this brief research project?
It's clear that email is still a key element of our roles with over 70% of respondents indicating they are receiving over 50 emails a day and half of our team are responding to emails after hours. Work life balance and the right to disconnect may be on the menu for our learning seminars shortly! 50 emails a day, is that alot or a little? Let's do the Maths and say on average, 2 minutes per email-read and reply-optimistic I know. That's 100 minutes, or 1 hour 4 minutes per day - 500 minutes a week.....Even conservatively that is alot of time dealing with email communication - alot of time!!
Over 60% of those responded also access their Senior Executive's email, along with their own and some interesting perspectives emerged. Having "access enables me to stay on top of what is happening in her world and draw things to her attention in a timely manner." For another "it is crucial I have access." So that's on top of our own email inboxes. One member said "having access fosters a trusting relationship, as it demonstrates complete confidence in my abilities and allows me to stay informed about ongoing matters without requiring my Executive Principal to constantly update me, especially when her time is limited".
A further 65% of those who replied were empowered to respond on their Senior Executive's behalf. Interesting responses included "I always draft responses before sending, as my Principal would like to keep them tailored to his communication style". Another managed this task in their own tailored way "we have a system where my Senior Executive tags the emails they want me to respond to."
In contrast, of those who don't have access, a clear majority felt that it would be with consistent answers along the line like "yes it would help but I can still do my job efficiently without access," and "I believe it would, for the reasons you outlined in your article."
A question about the benefits of having access to email generated a range of responses. Some suggested that a benefit would "include being able to follow up emails that require action" whilst for another "its good to be across all issues and assist in keeping up and replying. Some things I would prefer not to know about also." Another suggested the following "it is easy to understand priorities" and its a "timesaver, I am already across correspondence without needing an update." Having access makes my role "unbelievably more efficient" and this one I loved "It also allows me to understand her and get a greater sense of her day. I believe it is important to forge a "dynamic duo".
So as ever, our network has provided some fantastic data and valuable insights were revealed in this research project. Email is alive and well, thriving and prospering in our inboxes but as always to be provocative, 25 years in the 21st century, is this the best and only way to communicate?
My thanks to those who responded.
