Marsha Egan - Email Assessment
 
This self-analysis tool allows you to honestly assess your e-mail practices and determine whether or not they are toxic. After taking this assessment, you will have a greater understanding of your own e-mailing practices. You'll see what opportunities you have to increase your own productivity, thereby setting the stage for less stress, better organization, and greater impact. There are 20 brief questions on handling incoming email followed by 20 questions on outgoing email.
 
Section I - Incoming E-mail and
Inbox Management
 
Rate yourself 1 to 5, with 5 meaning "Strongly Agree,"
and 1 meaning "Strongly Disagree."

 
1.  I am not distracted when e-mail arrives in my inbox.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
2.  All bells, dings, flashes, and notifications of newly received e-mails are turned off.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
3.  My 'automatic send/receive' is either turned off or set to at least 90 minutes.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
4.  I check my e-mail no more than 5 times during the workday.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
5.  I open my e-mail with the intention of sorting the new e-mail rather than working it.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
6.  My inbox is empty after handling/sorting my newly received e-mail.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
7.  I place e-mails in folders, and use folders to manage my work.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
8.  I use rules to automatically handle received e-mails.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
9.  I can easily find e-mails that require my action.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
10.  I can find e-mail messages over 2 weeks old within three minutes.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
11.  I use diaries and reminders to manage my work.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
12.  I set a time aside, daily, to plan my work for the day.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
13.  I do a good job of sticking to my daily plan.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
14.  I avoid letting my e-mail pull me away from more important tasks.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
15.  I regularly purge my e-mail folders such as 'Sent Mail.'
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
16.  I close or minimize my e-mail when I am working on other projects.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
17.  I use the electronic calendar to schedule meetings and keep appointments.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
18.  I use the phone, meetings, or personal visits when communications can be complicated, confusing, or misinterpreted.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
19.  I set boundaries around when I handle my e-mail and when I turn it off.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 
20.  E-mail does not stress me out.
Strongly Disagree
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree
 

 
 

© 2008-2016 Marsha Egan. All rights reserved.
This assessment was developed by The Ictus Initiative