Etiquette rules for office communications
Written corporate communication has taken a decidedly casual turn, and navigating the ins-and-outs of texting, instant messaging and collaboration platforms -- even emoticons -- can trip up even the savviest wordsmith.
"Writing, especially in the corporate world, used to be formal and stylized, with hard-and-fast rules to follow. There's the intent of a message, and there's the delivery mechanism; we used to use the delivery to convey the intent, but that's not the case anymore," says Tony Ventrice, director of game systems design with Badgeville, an enterprise gamification and collaboration platform. For example, a hard copy letter or even an email used to be the preferred medium for conveying serious, sensitive business information, especially between subordinates and their managers.
Nowadays, though, according to Ventrice, you're more likely to get a quick text from your boss, or receive a short message through Yammer or Slack or some other collaboration platform. So, how can you make sure you're following correct etiquette for these new, informal communication methods? Ventrice offers six tips on how to get your message through politely and concisely, with maximum impact and minimal drama.