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E-mail Control Freaks Insecurity Communication

My boss likes to be copied on emails we send in our department. Often with mine, he will “reply to all,” restate exactly what I just stated in my email, and then resend it to everyone who just received the message from me. I have politely told him that if there is email he would prefer to send out, he should please let me know so the recipients can avoid a double email, but he continues to restate and resend my email. How can I bring up the subject again?



It sounds like you work for a controlling boss who thinks that email means re-mail. Perhaps there is some insecurity behind this. Rephrasing and repeating what you have already sent allows him to convey that he is in control and on top of what is happening in the department.

You were right to approach him and offer him the option to send out the email instead of you. However, he probably needs your analyses, insights, and content before he can send anything to your fellow employees.

Try approaching this matter from a broader perspective, such as in terms of increasing productivity by reducing the quantity of email that all of you are receiving. You and your associates should to meet with him to discuss all forms of unnecessary email and how to eliminate it. If he can see how he will benefit by reducing his emailed restatements, such as through increased departmental productivity, he may change his behavior.

If he continues to restate and resend your messages, you and your associates should not let this push your buttons. Just push the delete button when one of his restatements arrives.




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