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Business research firm Basex reports that "unnecessary interruptions" will cost businesses $650 billion next year. Excuse me. My boss is IMing me with a YouTube video I apparently need to watch. Where was I? Basex analyst Jonathan Spira gave Bits a pledge for all of us to take, so we can avoid being part of the problem. What? Not now, Jordan, I'm posting!

  • "I will not email someone and then two seconds later follow up with an IM or phone call."
  • "I will read my own emails before sending them to make sure they are comprehensible to others."
  • "I will not overburden colleagues with unnecessary email, especially one word replies such as "Thanks!" or "Great!", and will use "reply to all" only when absolutely necessary."