Inbox triage is sorting an executive’s incoming mail into what needs their reply, what the assistant can answer, what can be delegated and what can be archived. It is usually done to a fixed routine rather than continuously.
Triage is one of the highest-frequency mechanical tasks in the executive assistant role, alongside diary management and travel logging. The value is in the rules: without an agreed definition of urgent, triage becomes guesswork.
Most assistants triage two or three times a day rather than continuously, so the rest of the day is not fragmented by notifications. Anything the assistant can answer directly is answered without involving the executive at all.
Frequently asked questions
What does Inbox Triage mean in simple terms?
Inbox triage is sorting an executive’s incoming mail into what needs their reply, what the assistant can answer, what can be delegated and what can be archived. It is usually done to a fixed routine rather than continuously.
What are the rules around Inbox Triage?
Triage is one of the highest-frequency mechanical tasks in the executive assistant role, alongside diary management and travel logging. The value is in the rules: without an agreed definition of urgent, triage becomes guesswork.
How does Inbox Triage work in practice?
Most assistants triage two or three times a day rather than continuously, so the rest of the day is not fragmented by notifications. Anything the assistant can answer directly is answered without involving the executive at all.