The survey of working professionals and business owners and their views on the challenges of managing the daily flow of business communication, the impact on their schedules, and their ability to focus on and complete their work.
We set out to discover the challenges working professionals, small business owners, and executives experience regarding the flow of information and management of their time.
Rob Hatch Coaching and Consulting and Owner Media Group surveyed 180 individuals between September 10, 2024, and September 28, 2024. This included employees from large and small companies and business owners.

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Top Conclusions from the Survey
Employees and business owners are overwhelmed by the amount of communication they have to manage in a day.
Instant message platforms are consuming a great deal of the time and attention of employees.
Employees are spending a disproportionate amount of time checking message notifications even if only to verify that a message is not intended for them.
Potential Concerns for Employers
Instant messaging disrupts employee focus and time.
The tools used for employee communication are undercutting the effectiveness of employee communication.
Lack of clarity and consistency around the rules and expectations of instant communication negatively impacts productivity.
“Always on” cultures leave little time for deep, focused work.
Inbox management gaps create the potential lost business.
Employee’s negative perceptions about their work underscore mental health and engagement challenges.
Download the Full 2024 Report
