Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I am the manager of a small but active membership charity with 12 trustees and many interested members – all of whom seem to email me every day expecting a personal response. The charity has grown significantly over the last 10 years and has four members of staff, but, as manager, I am the only full-time member of staff while finance and communications roles are part-time.
I was appointed to work on strategic issues but I am constantly distracted by operational issues. Some members have complained if I have passed their emails with queries or comments to other staff members, or even other trustees, for a detailed reply as they would like a “personal touch”.
Do you have any advice for dealing with a constant torrent of emails on operational issues when I need to create headspace for strategic issues?
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
