Survey shows average exec spending more time on hold

If you're increasingly finding yourself in eternal telephone limbo, you're not alone. According to a nationwide survey, the average executive spends 17 minutes on hold each day. In a similar survey conducted in 1993, the mean response to this question was 15 minutes, according to a news release from OfficeTeam.

The survey was developed by Office-

Team, a staffing service specializing in highly skilled temporary office and administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.

Survey respondents were asked, "How many minutes do you think the average executive wastes on the telephone each day being 'on hold'?" The mean response was 17 minutes.

"Managers today have precious little time for unproductive situations," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Even with the increased use of voice mail systems which most would agree are highly efficient callers can get caught in a labyrinth of options which require lengthy waiting periods."

Domeyer added that while automated hold intervals are difficult to avoid, business professionals can do their part by remembering the "golden rule" and not delaying callers for unreasonable lengths of time.