It’s that thing on your desk that has all the buttons. That’s the lifeline to the people you interact with day-to-day who are not in the office. It can clear up misunderstandings, clarify ideas and inspire action.

It’s the telephone I’m referring to. It can do just the opposite of what that other thing on your desk with all the buttons sometimes does with computer-generated e-mail, which is create misunderstandings, obfuscate ideas and cause paralysis—when it’s overused.

This is why I have a “two e-mail rule.” It’s very simple. The third exchange of information is always a phone call if there are any questions to answer or points to clarify.

–Byron