We've greatly improved the email experience by limiting it only for the purpose of sharing needed information.  This has cut down the distraction to near zero.  All other discussions are handled in live chat, which remains silent all day unless there is a meeting or presentation.  It's great for quick questions after which it goes silent again.  Response time is instantaneous because everyone is "live."Many years ago when email really took off, my manager realized some of us were wasting half a day on it.  It's much slower as a discussion medium because each communication is only one-way.He told me, from now on, don't open your email until 4:00PM, thinking the most time we could waste was one hour until we transitioned into unpaid overtime.One day there was a business crisis and our manager sent an urgent email from an external meeting.  Later, arriving at the office some time after lunch he was horrified to learn nothing had been done."Didn't you see my email?" he thundered."No," I replied, "I don't open my email until 4:00"

We've greatly improved the email experience by limiting it only for the purpose of sharing needed information.  This has cut down the distraction to near zero.  All other discussions are handled in live chat, which remains silent all day unless there is a meeting or presentation.  It's great for quick questions after which it goes silent again.  Response time is instantaneous because everyone is "live."Many years ago when email really took off, my manager realized some of us were wasting half a day on it.  It's much slower as a discussion medium because each communication is only one-way.He told me, from now on, don't open your email until 4:00PM, thinking the most time we could waste was one hour until we transitioned into unpaid overtime.One day there was a business crisis and our manager sent an urgent email from an external meeting.  Later, arriving at the office some time after lunch he was horrified to learn nothing had been done."Didn't you see my email?" he thundered."No," I replied, "I don't open my email until 4:00"

user
yes
assistant