Conclusion

We are at a turning point in business today. Tools such as e-mail, instant messaging, and online chat have become an integral part of our everyday workplace. This influx of technology into almost every facet of business life has created a streamlined workplace that often collides with our increased need for human contact.

Throughout the past years we have interviewed more than 25,000 businesspeople in our seminars and presentations, asking them, “What’s the single biggest challenge you face in today’s business environment?” Time and again we hear variations on the same theme: “How do we stay in touch and connected to each other, in a high-tech world?”

Keeping in touch via e-mail requires remembering that the traditional workplace values of relationship, courtesy, and etiquette are more relevant than ever in a world where a passion for technology—without a passion for substance—seems rampant.

We sincerely hope that E-Mail In An Instant has helped you discover the path to maintaining and enriching your online relationships, and that this book will find a permanent home on your business bookshelf.