Etiquette queen June Dally-Watkins isn't the only one who's concerned about emails eroding that personal touch - business leaders awarding contracts feel the same way.
A failure to return phone calls, a poorly written email and not setting aside time to meet in person isn't just rude, it's also bad for business, a Galaxy Research survey commissioned by virtual office group Servcorp has found.
"Nothing says more clearly to a client or prospect that they are just another item on your to-do list than being too busy to return a voicemail or receiving a rushed typo-ridden email," Servcorp's chief operating officer Marcus Moufarrige says.
Some 78 per cent of the 457 business leaders surveyed say the failure to return calls can affect their decision on awarding a contract.
More than half (58 per cent) say poorly written emails with grammatical errors and typos may also affect their choice.
One-third of the leaders could hinge their decision on the failure to set aside time to meet in person.
Mr Moufarrige says it is worrying to see businesses prioritising their needs over those of their clients.
"Australian companies could be putting future growth prospects at risk by using technology in isolation," he said.
Ms Dally-Watkins, who is also a veteran business leader in the finishing school field, has long deplored the decline in face-to-face communication as technology compromises manners.
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