GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Must-Know Communication Statistics [Latest Report]

Highlights: The Most Important Communication Statistics

  • 64% of people check their emails first in the morning before doing anything else for work.
  • 42% of Americans admit checking their work emails while in the restroom, and a concerning 18% do so while driving.
  • 70% of employees use instant messaging platforms for business communication.
  • Collaboration and productivity are closely linked, and the following statistics demonstrate the importance of fostering a collaborative work culture.
  • 65% of organizations have no official digital communication policy.
  • An individual’s ability to communicate effectively is 7 times more important than their technical knowledge in determining job success.
  • 69% of managers feel uncomfortable communicating with employees.
  • Emails are the primary form of communication in 54% of organizations.
  • The average employee spends 28% of their work week managing emails.
  • An estimated $37 billion is lost annually to poor communication in the United States.
  • The average employee checks their email 36 times an hour.
  • 55% of CEOs feel that communication is the most important soft skill for employees to possess.
  • Employees spend 2.5 hours a day searching for information.
  • Managers spend 80% of their day communicating.
  • Companies with engaged employees report 2.5 times higher revenues than those with low engagement.
  • 92% of employees feel more loyal and committed to their work when a manager communicates goals and expectations well.
  • 79% of remote employees feel left out and uninvolved due to lack of communication.
  • 70% of employees who lack confidence in their managers feel disengaged from their work.
  • Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate, while email has a 0.12% response rate.
  • 64% of employees do not feel they have a strong company culture due to poor communication.

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Communication is a fundamental part of our lives. It’s how we build relationships, share ideas, and make decisions. But what do the statistics tell us about how we communicate? In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest communication statistics to gain insight into how people communicate today.

We’ll look at the most popular communication methods, the most common topics of conversation, and the latest trends in communication. We’ll also consider what these statistics mean for businesses, organizations, and individuals. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of how communication is changing and how you can use it to your advantage.

Communication: The Most Important Statistics

97% of employees recognize the significance of communication, considering it a crucial factor for successful outcomes at work.
86% of employees and executives cited the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the leading cause of workplace failures.
Investing in better communication technology and skills can have significant benefits for both employees and employers; productivity can increase by 20 to 25%.

Email Communication Statistics

Every day, 333.2 billion emails are sent and received worldwide, but only about a third (34.1%) of emails in North America are opened.

Email is the most widely used tool for client communication, with 62%. Other responses split pretty evenly between online chat tools such as Slack (11%), project management tools (11%), phone (9%) and face-to-face (3%.)

The average worker spends 28% of their workweek managing emails; the amount of time spent on email management is significant and can take away from other important tasks.

64% of people check their emails first in the morning before doing anything else for work.

35% of people check their emails outside of working hours.

42% of Americans admit checking their work emails while in the restroom, and a concerning 18% do so while driving.

Phone Communication Statistics

Despite the prevalence of digital communication channels, 72% of customers still prefer to contact businesses by phone.

However, these statistics also indicate that businesses need to ensure they provide quality phone communication services, including having a live person available to answer calls.

60% of customers feel frustrated when they can’t reach a real person on the phone.

The high percentage of callers (80%) not leaving voicemail suggests that many customers may feel discouraged or disinterested in leaving a message, potentially leading to lost opportunities.

What Communication Channels Are The Most Effective?

Employees’ preferred methods of communication are email (64%) and face-to-face communication (20%).

It is also true that 69% of managers are uncomfortable when communicating with their employees, with 16% preferring email to face-to-face interactions.

Video conferencing is predicted to be the fastest-growing communication channel in the next two years.

70% of employees use instant messaging platforms for business communication.

These statistics highlight the importance of utilizing multiple communication channels in the workplace for more efficient and effective communication.

Popular Platforms for Workplace Communication

Slack seems to be the most popular platform for workplace communication, used by 52% of respondents, followed by Zoom (47%) and Google Hangouts/Meet (26%).

The ever-popular workplace communication tool reported that it added 9,000 new paid customers between February 1st and March 25th 2020. That represents an 80% increase over the last two financial quarters. As of 2020, over 750,000 organizations use Slack (112,000 are “paid” organizations).

Zoom has around 470,000 paying customers in 2022. The number of meeting minutes on the platform every year is over 3.3 trillion.

Few phenomena have taken over the Covid-19 discourse, like the “Zoom boom”. Zoom quizzes, drinks, and catch-ups have become so common that the company’s revenues jumped by 169% in 2021.

Similarly to Zoom, there has been a huge hype around Skype. Microsoft’s video calling service reported 40 million daily users in March 2020, up 70% from the previous month.

Google’s video conference tool has also seen a meteoric rise in usage, with its daily use rising by 25% from January to March 2020.

Collaboration and Productivity Communication Statistics

Collaboration and productivity are closely linked, and the following statistics demonstrate the importance of fostering a collaborative work culture.

Teams that work together are five times more likely to produce high-quality work.

Clear communication also helps ensure that employees understand the company’s goals and priorities: 64% of businesses list communicating their “strategy, values and purpose” to employees as a critical priority.

97% of employees and executives believe that lack of alignment within a team can negatively impact the outcome of a task or project.

According to the Harvard Business Review, 72% of employees believe that they would be able to perform better if their managers provided them with corrective feedback, which is also referred to as negative feedback.

This indicates that employees crave constructive criticism and are likely to be motivated by constructive feedback, enabling them to identify areas of improvement in their work and enhance their overall performance.

Supplementary Statistics

65% of organizations have no official digital communication policy.

Without such a policy, organizations are leaving themselves vulnerable to potential miscommunication, misunderstandings, and other issues that can arise from digital communication. It is essential for organizations to have a clear and concise policy in place to ensure that digital communication is conducted in a professional and effective manner.

An individual’s ability to communicate effectively is 7 times more important than their technical knowledge in determining job success.

Having strong communication skills is essential for achieving success in any job. It also implies that technical knowledge, while important, is not as important as the ability to communicate effectively. This is an important reminder for employers and job seekers alike that communication should be a priority when it comes to job success.

69% of managers feel uncomfortable communicating with employees.

This highlights the need for managers to be able to effectively communicate with their employees in order to foster a productive and positive work environment. It also serves as a warning that if managers are not comfortable communicating with their employees, it could lead to a breakdown in communication and a decrease in morale and productivity.

Emails are the primary form of communication in 54% of organizations.

Emails are a key form of communication for the majority of organizations, and they are an essential tool for staying connected and productive. This is especially pertinent in the context of a blog post about communication statistics, as it provides a valuable insight into the current state of communication in the workplace.

The average employee spends 28% of their work week managing emails.

This serves as a reminder that communication is a key factor in the success of any organization, and that it should be taken seriously. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for efficient communication strategies and tools to ensure that employees are able to manage their emails in an effective and timely manner.

An estimated $37 billion is lost annually to poor communication in the United States.

It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of effective communication in the workplace, and the need to invest in strategies and tools that can help improve communication.

The average employee checks their email 36 times an hour.

This shows how much of our attention is devoted to email, and how it can be a distraction from other tasks. This statistic is an important reminder of the need to be mindful of how much time we spend on email and to prioritize other forms of communication.

55% of CEOs feel that communication is the most important soft skill for employees to possess.

Thus, investing in communication skills can be a worthwhile endeavor for employees looking to advance their careers.

Employees spend 2.5 hours a day searching for information.

Therefore, there is a need for organizations to invest in communication systems that are efficient and effective.

Managers spend 80% of their day communicating.

This highlights the fact that managers must be adept communicators in order to effectively lead their teams and achieve success. It also serves as a reminder that communication is a key factor in any successful organization, and that managers should prioritize it in their daily activities.

Companies with engaged employees report 2.5 times higher revenues than those with low engagement.

Companies that prioritize employee engagement are reaping the rewards in terms of increased revenue, demonstrating the value of investing in communication strategies that foster a positive work environment.

92% of employees feel more loyal and committed to their work when a manager communicates goals and expectations well.

When managers communicate goals and expectations clearly, employees feel more connected to their work and more dedicated to achieving those goals. This is an invaluable insight for any organization looking to foster a culture of loyalty and commitment among its staff.

79% of remote employees feel left out and uninvolved due to lack of communication.

Employers need to ensure that their remote employees are not feeling isolated and disconnected from their colleagues. Without effective communication, remote employees can quickly become disengaged and unproductive, leading to a decrease in morale and productivity. This statistic serves as a warning to employers to prioritize communication and ensure that their remote employees are feeling included and involved.

70% of employees who lack confidence in their managers feel disengaged from their work.

Managers need to create an environment of trust and support, as this is essential for employees to feel engaged in their work. Without this, employees may become disengaged and their productivity and morale can suffer. This statistic is a call to action for managers to ensure that they are communicating effectively with their employees and creating an environment of trust and support.

Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate, while email has a 0.12% response rate.

Direct mail is significantly more successful in eliciting a response than email, with a response rate that is over 36 times higher. This highlights the importance of considering the most appropriate communication method when trying to reach an audience.

64% of employees do not feel they have a strong company culture due to poor communication.

Organizations should therefore prioritize communication in order to foster a positive and productive work environment. Without effective communication, employees may feel disconnected from their colleagues and the company as a whole, leading to a lack of engagement and motivation.

Conclusion

The research presented in this blog post shows that communication skills are an important factor in the success of individuals and organizations. Communication skills are essential for building relationships, developing trust, and creating a positive work environment.

Investing in communication training and development can help individuals and organizations maximize their potential and achieve their goals. With the right communication skills, individuals and organizations can achieve greater success and satisfaction.

Conclusion

The importance of effective communication in the modern world cannot be overstated. The statistics presented in this blog post demonstrate that communication is a key factor in successful businesses, relationships, and societies. Communication is an essential tool for creating understanding, solving problems, and making progress. It is clear that communication is an integral part of our lives, and it is vital that we continue to strive for better communication practices in our lives and organizations.

References

Cmswire: “4 Trends in Workplace Communication” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Sales Force: “How Soft Skills Are Crucial to Your Business” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Project.co: ” Communication Statistics 2023″ cited in February 2023 (Source)

McKinsey & Company: “The social economy: Unlocking value and productivity through social technologies” cited in February (Source)

Linkedin: “Statistics on why effective communication is important in the workplace” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Harvard Business Review: “Two-Thirds of Managers Are Uncomfortable Communicating with Employees” cited to February 2023 (Source)

Statista: “Number of sent and received e-mails per day worldwide from 2017 to 2025” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Harvard Business Review: “Your Employees Want the Negative Feedback You Hate to Give” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Westford University College: “The Rise of Media, Culture and Communication Skills in Business” cited in February 2023 (Source)

Expert Market: “The Importance of Effective Workplace Communication – Statistics2 cited in February 2023 (Source)

Slack: “Slack Announces Record First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Results” cited in February 2023 (Source)

ZipDo, cited June 2023: Communication Statistics

Zipflix – Statistieken over Communicatie

FAQs

What is communication?

Communication is the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings between two or more people.

What are the different types of communication?

Types of communication include verbal (spoken), non-verbal (body language, gestures, facial expressions), written, and visual (pictures, videos).

What are the benefits of effective communication?

The benefits of effective communication include improved understanding, better relationships, and increased productivity.

What are the barriers to effective communication?

Barriers to effective communication include language differences, cultural differences, physical distance, and technology issues.

What strategies can be used to improve communication?

Strategies to improve communication include active listening, being clear and concise, using open-ended questions, and being open to feedback.

How we write our statistic reports:

We have not conducted any studies ourselves. Our article provides a summary of all the statistics and studies available at the time of writing. We are solely presenting a summary, not expressing our own opinion. We have collected all statistics within our internal database. In some cases, we use Artificial Intelligence for formulating the statistics. The articles are updated regularly.

See our Editorial Process.

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