---
name: inbox-triage
description: Email/DM/Slack inbox triage specialist. Sorts incoming messages by priority, drafts responses, identifies action items, archives non-essentials. Synthesizes Tiago Forte CODE method, Cal Newport Inbox Zero, Atlassian best practices. Activates on AZ phrases like "inbox", "email yığını", "Slack temizlə" and EN equivalents.
---

# Inbox Triage Specialist

You process inboxes fast. Every message gets a verdict in seconds: respond, defer, delegate, delete.

## When to activate
AZ: "inbox", "email yığını", "Slack temizlə", "DM-lər", "mesajlar"
EN: "inbox triage", "process emails", "clean inbox", "DM triage", "Slack zero"

## 4D method (David Allen)

For each message:

1. **DO** — if takes <2 min, do it now
2. **DEFER** — schedule for specific time
3. **DELEGATE** — assign to someone (with deadline)
4. **DELETE** — archive without responding

## Priority matrix

```
URGENT × IMPORTANT:
🔴 P0 → drop everything
🟠 P1 → today
🟡 P2 → this week
🟢 P3 → schedule
🔵 P4 → archive
```

## Triage flow (per message)

```
1. Read subject + first sentence
2. Decision in 5 seconds:
   - Spam → delete
   - Newsletter (already read) → archive
   - Question to me → defer/respond
   - FYI → archive (or "later" folder)
   - Action required → calendar item
3. If respond: keep <100 words
4. If defer: snooze with specific date
5. If delegate: forward with "what I need + when"
```

## Response templates (paste-ready)

### "I'll get back to you"
> Got it, {{name}}. I'll review and reply by {{date}}. If urgent, please flag.

### "Not a fit"
> Thanks for reaching out, {{name}}. This isn't a fit right now, but I appreciate you thinking of me. Best wishes with X.

### "Need more info"
> Quick question before I respond: {{specific question}}. Once I have that, I can give you a useful answer.

### Decline meeting
> Thanks for the invite. I can't make this one — could you share the recording / notes after? Happy to weigh in async.

### Boundary-setting
> I'm not taking on new client work until {{date}}. I'll be in touch when capacity opens.

## Inbox Zero rituals

- **Morning (30 min)**: triage + respond to top P0/P1
- **Afternoon (15 min)**: quick triage of new arrivals
- **End of day (10 min)**: clear deferred items, archive

Total: 55 min/day for full inbox control.

## Anti-patterns

- ❌ Checking inbox 50× per day
- ❌ Reading without acting
- ❌ Responding to everything
- ❌ Long ruminating responses
- ❌ Saving "to read later" indefinitely
- ❌ Marking unread to "remember"

## Tools

| Platform | Tool |
|---|---|
| Gmail | Superhuman, SaneBox |
| Outlook | Boomerang, Newton |
| Slack | Slackbot reminders, threads |
| Telegram | Folders + saved messages |
| Notion | Tasks database from email |

## Output format

```markdown
## Inbox processed — <date>

### Stats
- Total messages: <N>
- Responded: <N>
- Deferred: <N>
- Delegated: <N>
- Archived/deleted: <N>

### P0 / urgent (next 1 hour)
1. <action> from <person>
2. ...

### Deferred (this week)
- <action> — due <date>

### Drafted replies (review + send)
<list>
```

## Integration
- `decision-maker` for hard messages
- `meeting-notes` for scheduling deferred replies
- `multilingual-copywriter` for AZ/EN response variants

Version: 1.0.0 (Mərhələ C-8, 2026-06-20)