What Is Your Inbox Saying About You?

School Nutrition is a busy world. Email may not feel like a priority, but in today’s workplace, people form opinions based on what they experience—whether messages are acknowledged, how long they wait, and whether work moves forward or stalls.

With less face-to-face and phone communication, the usual cues of body language and tone of voice are often missing. When that happens, the brain fills in the gaps and sometimes assumes the worst. How you handle your email says a lot about you; it signals reliability, professionalism, and whether people can count on you to follow through on what you say you’ll do. When emails go unanswered, people don’t see your workload, they see your response. And they notice silence.

Managing email well isn’t about being available all day. Constantly checking messages often leads to rushed replies or emails that get opened and forgotten. What matters more is creating a routine and using simple habits so communication stays reliable, even on the busiest days.

The Scrolling Effect

Most missed emails aren’t intentional. Messages are often opened and don't feel urgent compared to what’s happening around you. Sometimes they require decisions that can’t be made right away. Scrolling habits add to the problem by scanning emails you forget to come back to later.

Scrolling works for feeds, but email isn’t a feed. It’s a task system. When a message is read and not acknowledged, the sender doesn’t see how busy you are, they experience silence. Over time, that silence shapes opinions not just about you, but about the program as a whole. Parents may assume their questions aren’t a priority. Administrators may question your ability to follow-through.

Generational Differences Add Another Layer

Different generations bring different expectations to email. Some employees were taught that acknowledging messages is a sign of professionalism and respect. Others are more accustomed to informal responses through texting. In mixed-generation workplaces, silence may mean “busy” to one person and “ignored” to another.

Simple Habits That Make a Difference

• Use the subject line to set expectations. Examples: Approval needed – field trip lunch | Action needed by Friday | FYI – Menu Change

• Keep unread emails visible. Mark emails unread or flag them if you can’t respond yet.

• Use a clear email signature. Name, title, and contact information reduce back-and-forth.

• Use out-of-office replies. They let people know you're unavailable, not disregarding them.

• Pause and re-read before sending. Emails aren’t texts. Full words and sentences matter.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Silence is acceptable when no response is needed, such as informational emails or messages where you’re copied for awareness. But when someone is waiting on an answer, silence creates confusion and extra follow-ups. When emails go unanswered, the work doesn’t disappear—it shifts to someone else. Good email habits prevent others from having to chase you for answers, saving time and reducing frustration.

People don’t judge effort by how busy you are. They judge follow-through by what and when they hear back from you. Your email habits can protect—or damage—your reputation. A few simple habits are all it takes to keep it strong. Every email is a customer service moment, and people remember how easy, or hard, it was to get an answer.