“Kind of chain you might want to get rid of” has nothing to do with a physical chain. Instead, the NYT Mini clue refers to an intangible chain that some find annoying, and can be counterproductive to getting work done.

Time to walk you through the answer and explain some of the clues.

"EMAIL" is what the NYT Mini Crossword is looking for when it comes to seven people.

Sending and receiving emails is a common form of virtual communication because it’s electronic. And if you’re constantly sending back-and-forth emails with users who are sending too many (due to one- and two-word replies), you might want to cut the chain.