What's your expectation for a response when sending an email?
Asked by
funkdaddy (
17777
)
October 19th, 2010
I’m finding my expectations when sending or receiving emails don’t necessarily match up with others, so I’m hoping you can help me with what’s typical and expected…
Let’s say in a business setting, if you use email fairly often, what are your expectations for the other party?
> How quickly do you expect a response?
> Are you upset if you don’t receive one?
> If the email covers a task, do you expect or want an email confirming they’re working on it? Or just let you know when it’s done?
> If something is important or urgent, do you use email or some other way to get in touch?
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6 Answers
I’d say for business purposes 24 hours isn’t unreasonable and if you can’t answer the question in that time it is courteous to let the sender know when you can get back to them…
Everyone seems to handle the e-mail responses differently. If the way each person manages their own e-mail is applied to their own expectations, it results in disappointment from others.
My guidelines:
* If a response is needed in less then 24 hours, go to their office, pick up the phone or for an e-mail use an “Urgent” function or wording in the Subject line.
* If a response isn’t received in a timely manner, I attempt to call them or go to another source. On occasion, a follow-up e-mail is sent if there is no other source or another contact method.
* I use the Out-of-Office function if unable to reply in less then 24 hours and provide an alternative contact.
It really depends on the kind of email I have sent out. Urgent ones—I expect a reply in a day, or less. Then there are some emails that never need a response. It’s the relationship you have with your correspondent that determines this.
my business operates more quickly. Many emails are expected to respond within 1 -2 hours. Almost all expected within 24 hours. If I specifically ask for a response, 48 hours means you are blowing me off and I need to escalate the matter.
My business carries expectation that all are reviewing emails regularly during the day, and even after hours. that’s why you have the damn blackberry!
i would expect to see “we will contact you within 24 hours” and then for them to contact me in 7 hours.
I would expect a ticket/incident number within 5 to 10 seconds of mailing them, with a final email after 7 or so hours.
> How quickly do you expect a response?
Within 2 hours if marked “High Priority”. 24–36 otherwise.
> Are you upset if you don’t receive one?
No.
> If the email covers a task, do you expect or want an email confirming they’re working on it? Or just let you know when it’s done?
Just let me know when it’s done. I don’t care where you’re at until it is ready for review….
> If something is important or urgent, do you use email or some other way to get in touch?
I call. If there’s no answer, I email.
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