Few things are as frustrating as sending out an email and waiting… and waiting… to get a response – especially if the other person is still sending you emails even as yours goes unanswered.
It turns out that the tardy replier may have a valid reason. A study at the University of Waterloo, Canada, found that sometimes, people put off answering emails due to the time and effort involved in handling them. This includes replying, reading carefully, clicking on links and opening attachments.
In behavioural science, such actions are obstacles that deter someone from completing a task. So to get a person to take action, such as replying to your email, the task has to be as easy as possible.
Here’s how to make your emails easier to respond to.
Be Clear and Simple