Colleagues not replying to emails... what do you do?

[HagHaggis]

Can anyone advise what to do on this? I have repeatedly asked colleagues for information on something and they haven't replied to my emails. Particularly aggravating given they contacted me in the first instance about me publicising their work?! (I work in a marketing type role).
I've followed up very politely twice but zilch and now I feel it's just disrespectful?!

have you tried read receipt?

have you tried a phone call?

Send another email saying something like - "I'd love to work with you on X. To do so I'll need Y information by Z date. If that won't be possible, please let me know so I can prioritise other projects."

Have you tried different communication channels like instant message, phone call? Have you checked their calendar to see if they're on leave?

Can you drop this project and move on to something else? If not then you might need to escalate with your manager and/or theirs. If you can drop it then I'd just work on something else until they get back to you.

This but instead of that final sentence I’d put something like “I appreciate we’re all really busy so if I don’t hear from you by the end of the day/Friday/etc I’ll assume you no longer have time to work on this.”

Timescale depends on what seems reasonable to you.

I would pick up the phone. Or Teams call them. Or go to their desk and see them in person.

Email is a rubbish communication method for busy people who get lots of them each day.

You should know this being in marketing- one of the top rules is think of your audience;)

I ignore those. Loathe them as it won't change a thing except inform the sender that I've got the email.

Getting back to the problem, if people ignore your emails, unless you have to action on receipt and you're up against a deadline, then you prioritise them equally.

Otherwise you need to communicate.....by picking up the phone. Radical I know ...

Phone and ask.
or
Chase up email referring to previous email and “I do not appear to have received a reply. Please could you give an indication of when you will be able to respond? If it’s not yourselves who deal with this subject please could you let je know who I should contact. I need this info by 27th so if you can indicate if this would be possible I’d appreciate it thanks”.

If no reply in a couple of days I’d send again and copy in my line manager as they need to know you’re not getting what you need.

They asked you to do something, you need more information from them to do it, they don't reply. I wouldn't put any more effort into this. The ball's in their court.

Yes - this. I wouldn’t chase them in this scenario seeing as they’re the ones who asked for the your help to begin with. They know where to find you.

This does my fucking nut in. I will follow it up with a phone call to try and pin them down, and if all else fails and I need the information I escalate it.

There are a few senior individuals in my organisation who are known for their lack of responses to emails and they seem to get away with it - it's the height of disrespect imo.

It depends how much you need/want to do the thing you need the information from them.

If it's not a priority for you then a final email saying that if they still want you to do whatever it is you will need the information from them by x date and if you don't have it you will assume project is on hold.

If you do need to do whatever it is then a final email ccing in your boss and/or theirs noting your deadline and asking them to confirm they will be able to respond with the required information by y date.

I work in a sales based role. When a sales person hasn’t done something that in turn stops me doing my job I just email their manager. I don’t bother emailing the sales person

I used to email the sales person but some wouldn’t do what was required so I’d then have to email their manager. I just email the manager instead now as it’s quicker and gets the job done. If the manager doesn’t do what I need doing I cc the director in. He gets on their case within minutes and miraculously things get done instantly

I send a meeting request to discuss it, they usually reply then

Call them or set up a meeting

I'd keep emailing them but if it was getting urgent I'd ring them. Several times if necessary till I spoke to them.

Send a follow up like others have suggested but CC manager ‘for visibility’. That usually prompts some urgency.

there is always delivery receipt

How annoying.

I am in a similar role, and personally I would not put any further effort in.

As long as you can prove that you requested further information in order to publicise their work, I think you're covered.

Are you working in HE by any chance? 😂

Either phone them, or reply to your email and include their manager