Use Outlook Flags to Track Conversations
I use my e-mail inbox as a kind of to-do list, leaving "actionable" messages marked as unread so I remember to act on them. But if I get too much mail, those messages get pushed down the list and out of sight. (I never said it was a great system.) The smarter solution: Use flags to track conversations in Outlook.
The Outlook Team Blog shows you how in three simple steps: flag e-mails for follow-up (making sure to assign a due date), update the flags when new messages arrive in your tracked conversations, and take action on overdue flags.
How does this work in a real-world scenario? Here's one example:
Making a Commitment â€" Since I believe in the Golden Rule, I use "Send-and-Track" not just when I ask others to do something but also when I commit to getting something done. In other words, if I send you a message that says "I'll get to this next week", chances are that I flagged that message for "Next Week" before hitting send (whether I actually get to it before the end of next week is a different issue--).I should note that these instructions seem to be geared toward Outlook 2007, but you should be able to apply the same principles in Outlook 2003. So, how about it? Are you a "flagger"? Hit the Comments and let us know if you've "raised the flag" in Outlook or have only flagging interest in the idea. (That's it, I'm out of bad puns. Lucky for you.)