Before email, SENDERS shouldered the burden of mail. Writing, stamping, and mailing a letter was a lot of work. Email bludgeoned that system in no time. Now the RECEIVER shoulders the burden of filtering, reading and responding to the endless stream of emails we receive on a day-to-day basis.

Taming email means training the senders to put the burden of quality back on themselves. What's the best way to train everyone around you to better email habits? You guessed it: You go first. Set the example, be the role model. Demonstrate a policy for a month, and if people like it, ask them to start doing the same.

Top Tips for Mastering Email Overload

Shifting the Burden Back to the Sender

• Use the Subject Line to Summarize the Message. People scan their email inbox by subject. Make your subject rich enough that your readers can decide whether it's relevant. The best way to do this is to summarize your message IN the subject line.

• Give Your Reader Full Context at the Beginning of the Message. Too many messages forwarded to you start with an answer - "Yes! I agree" - without offering context. You're expected to read through a thread of several messages to figure out the core of the issue and what is expected from you. Start your email with enough context to orient your reader -- Make it easy for the reader to understand the purpose of your email and to respond effectively if a response is being requested.

• Make Action Requests Very Clear. If you want things to get done, say so. Clearly. There's nothing more frustrating as a reader than getting copied on an e-mail and finding out three weeks later that someone expected you to pick up the project and run with it. Summarize ALL of the action items at the end of a message so everyone can read them at one glance.

• Limit Distribution Only to Relevant Parties. Avoid the temptation of "Replying to All" or sending to a "Group List" if there are parties that really do NOT need to receive the email. Choose your recipients carefully and expect the same from your team members.

• Use the Phone if a Dialogue is Required. Sometimes a phone conversation is much more effective and less time consuming for dealing with certain issues, particularly when a "back and forth" dialogue is expected. Ask yourself the question: "Is an email really the best way to handle this matter?"

• "No Reply Necessary." Let the recipient know, by including the phrase "No Reply Necessary," that he or she is not required to reply to your message. Many people feel compelled to reply, sometimes out of courtesy and sometimes because they do know what the sender expects. Take the burden of reply off the recipient whenever possible.

• Always Describe Attachments. When sending an attachment to a recipient - a file or document - always include a brief description within the body of the email of the attachment. Don't "force" the recipient to download and review a document if he or she does note need to.

• Always Include Your Full Signature. Make it standard practice to include your full "signature" at the end of all emails -- your name, company name, phone number, etc. Make it easy for the recipient to get back in touch with you in the easiest way possible for them. Sometimes putting your phone number in the subject line is great when you need a quick reply to something important.

• Highlight Important Information. Use "bolding" or CAPS to highlight important information in an email. Keep your email brief and to the point as a matter of practice.