I’m a writer, I think questions can be implied but it is true that I often get emails that lack a clear question mark. I tend to reply anyway, if I’ve got something to say or particularly if I want to keep talking with the sender for some other reason. But Kristin Muhlner, CEO of NewBrand Analytics, disagrees. Fast Company interviewed her about getting work done and among the many interesting answers there was this:

“I love email. I’m probably a rare breed in that regard. I love it because it allows me to work asynchronously and to consume vast amounts of information rapidly across the business. But unless I’m specifically asked a question, I don’t respond. If a CEO responds, everyone thinks they need to respond back, and that kicks up a lot of dust.”

The Many, Many, Many Things You Should Say “No” To At Work – David Zax, Fast Company (1 October 2014)

I can’t say I’d ever heard of NewBrand Analytics before I read this (and before 99U pointed me at it) and as I say, I don’t necessarily agree with Muhlner, but she’s very interesting. Read the full piece.