This might conflict with a lot of corporate ball passing.
A lot of times (I find), such emails are intended to move something from the senders' inbox/todo list onto yours.
That said, there are times and place where delaying responses/involvement may help. Earlier stages of projects can be the time when everyone throws in their 2c, but no real decisions or actions can be taken. When deadlines loom and decisions must be made, that changes.
I wouldn't recommend adopting one technique or another very broadly, but it probably is a good idea to adopt the general approach of thinking strategically about these things. Also worth noting the Napoleon was dealing with a very new and radical approach to hierarchies and such. He was probably experimental generally in his generalship. A generation earlier, his techniques may have not worked.
A lot of times (I find), such emails are intended to move something from the senders' inbox/todo list onto yours.
That said, there are times and place where delaying responses/involvement may help. Earlier stages of projects can be the time when everyone throws in their 2c, but no real decisions or actions can be taken. When deadlines loom and decisions must be made, that changes.
I wouldn't recommend adopting one technique or another very broadly, but it probably is a good idea to adopt the general approach of thinking strategically about these things. Also worth noting the Napoleon was dealing with a very new and radical approach to hierarchies and such. He was probably experimental generally in his generalship. A generation earlier, his techniques may have not worked.