As you may have noticed, everyone is obsessed by smartphones. They have revolutionized the way we communicate.
We all know how to write letters at school, and then later email messages. But how do you create a text message for work? These are the things you should avoid if your messages could endanger your career.
You should always ask permission to send a text message from a mobile phone number, especially if they are personal. You must state in your first message that you have requested permission (e.g. “Hi Sara, this is the message I promised to you” or “Hi Mark. I would like to continue our conversation today. Is this number okay?”
Text messages can be treated as a WhatsApp or Telegram message. However, not all SMS recipients respond the same way. You can call the person, or send an email with the subject “URGENT” if you require an immediate response. Don’t hesitate to ask someone via SMS or any other communication channel before the deadline. Consider moving the conversation to email if you feel you will need to follow-up with someone several times.
While emojis can be fun, too many of them in a conversation at work – especially with someone who doesn’t have a close relationship at the office – can impact your professional image. To reduce the risk of being viewed from a less-than-professional perspective, reduce the use of smiling faces.
Although SMS may be more casual than email, professional conversations using SMS should not compromise the correct use of language. Text messages that contain many errors are a sign of poor communication skills and lack of attention to detail, regardless of how minor they may seem. If you make a mistake in your message, be sure to double-check it before you send it.
Text messages are more intimate than email chain emails, so it is best to send them during business hours (8 AM-7 PM). You can send a message in the morning if you have to.
What is the best thing about texting and messaging? They are very short. Email is the best way to communicate a lengthy message. Nobody wants to read through text to try and understand what you are trying to say.
Professional text messaging has limits as its essence. It is forbidden to send confidential information via text messaging, whether it is about your company or about you. SMS should not contain confidential information such as the salary of an employee, the cost of a contract for a client, or any other potentially sensitive data. In professional text messages, you shouldn’t share any personal information. It is impossible to know who might be viewing the notifications and who might be taking screenshots.
