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ATW Survey Identifies Trends in Email
Usage
By Todd McDonald
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What is the one thing you wish you knew when it comes to using
email as a form of communication? What do you wish others
knew? Do you have any frustrations? Are you as efficient with
email as you want to be? While email has been around for a
number of years, it is still a relatively new form of
communication technology. Because of this, there are many
things some of us still want and need to know in order to
communicate electronically with effectiveness and efficiency. |
This summer, ATW
Training and Consulting, Inc. asked organizations throughout
Central Iowa to participate in a survey regarding the
effective use of email as a communication tool. The goal of
the survey was to identify opportunities to become more
effective with both our incoming and outgoing email. A total
of sixty-one different organizations responded to the survey.
The individuals responding held a variety of positions within
their respective organizations.
Key Findings:
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36% of
respondents reported getting 41 or more emails a day.
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20% of
respondents spend between 30 minutes to 1 hour daily on
incoming emails.
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59% of
respondents spend between 1-3 hours daily on incoming
emails.
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A majority of
those taking the survey (57%) expect a response to their
email within one day.
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7% of
respondents expect a response with one hour of receiving it.
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A majority of
responders’ frustrations with email had to do with the
amount of unnecessary email.
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Of the 61
organizations participating in the survey, 36 mentioned a
frustration with grammar and tone in an email message.
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19
organizations mentioned technical know-how of email software
was either a frustration or something they wish others knew
more about.
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When asked to
share a tip with others on email usage, 15 organizations
mentioned knowledge of organizing email communication.
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Of those who
responded, work-related email was the largest amount of
email received. Not surprisingly to some, SPAM was reported
as the second largest in volume followed by unnecessary
email and then personal.
About Todd
McDonald:
Todd McDonald is the president of ATW Training & Consulting,
Inc. He is the co-author of two books, “I Wish You Would Just
…” and “Finding 100 Extra Minutes a Day.” ATW works with
organizations to help unleash human potential through
customized programs on customer service, communication,
business writing, supervision and leadership.
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