Despite the numerous modes of communication available today, it can still be difficult to get your message across to someone and even more difficult to make sure they carry out the task you need them to. However, recent studies have shown that the simplicity of the sticky note may be all that you need to communicate with your colleagues.
Psychologist Kevin Hogan reviewed research done by Randy Garner in Harvard Business Review, which looked at different ways of relaying messages and tasks to peers in the workplace. Garner found that messages on sticky notes made people more likely to read and carry out what was asked of them. During his research, Garner sent surveys to three groups of 50 professors. The first group received a survey with the sticky note on it that only asked for the return of a completed survey. The second group received a survey with the same task, with the message handwritten on a cover letter, not a sticky note. The last group received the same survey with the same task for it to be completed, however it was only explained on a cover letter and not handwritten in any way.
In the end, for group 1, 76 percent of professors returned the survey. Group 2 had 48 percent of professors return the survey, while group 3 only had 36 percent of its professors return the completed survey. So, the sticky note won as being the most persuasive task-deliverer to the professors. We might be able to attribute these results to the sticky note looking out of place, making it harder to ignore. However, Hogan believes it may be due more to the personal sentiments of the sticky note between peers: “Ultimately, the sticky note represents one person communicating with another important person—almost as if it is a favor or special request, which makes the recipient feel important.” So, the next time you leave a message for your colleague make sure it’s on that bright, square-shaped piece of paper, because that may incline them to carry out whatever you need!