In The Era Of 'Sliding Into DMs', How Can We Text More Professionally?

With instant messaging apps becoming the preferred way to communicate in professional settings, what etiquette should you be mindful of? Indeed, the professional world has centred its communication around instant messaging due to its overwhelming speed and convenience. These tools, however, shape the manner in which someone will view your professionalism, presence, and credibility. This, in turn, will affect our reputation. In order to avoid this, we need to approach this with awareness and consciousness of how we message. 

When it comes to texting, the most important etiquette is presence. This is the factor in which we become intentional about circumstances. These include the selection of phrases, patterns of speech, and the choice of the various tools available. In addition, presence allows us to have professional communication without sounding careless. 

Texting in professional settings

Mindfulness in Messaging

Awareness begins with remembering that every message we send has an impact on our reputation. This impact can be positive or negative. Sending fragmented responses, or a message laden with excessive abbreviations, slang, or even emojis, can undermine the seriousness of a message.

While these may be suitable in personal conversations, professional communication requires clarity and full sentences. To strengthen the connection, take a moment to structure your response and allow the recipient to feel your attentiveness and regard for them.

Sensible Choices Build Trust

Conscious communication is about making deliberate decisions. For this scenario, ask yourself: Is this the appropriate platform for this communication? Every subject does not belong on an instant messaging app. 

While they are great for staying in touch and brief exchanges, conversation, sensitive issues, or business matters usually require email, a phone call, or better yet, face-to-face contact. The right choice of channel shows that you think clearly, and thinking clearly builds value in your word.

Reverence for Time and Place

Instant messaging creates the perception that the other person is reachable 24 hours in a day and 7 days a week. Conscious professionals, however, set boundaries and have regard for the valuable time of other people. Do not send messages at odd hours of the night or over the weekend, unless the situation is extremely important. 

Furthermore, if you must send a message, make sure that the message is focused and to the point, making sure that the receiver does not need to decode the purpose of the message.  

Strengthening Interactions Through Tools

Instant messaging apps serve a purpose. They are meant to improve interaction and not diminish it. If used properly, such tools can boost productivity, provide appropriate follow-ups and reminders, and improve synergy and connection. 

They, however, should not attempt to substitute conversations that are well planned. With the use of technology, a voice message or a carefully composed email is better suited to convey tone and emotion that a rushed text message would not capture.

Professionalism Creates Presence

Your etiquette in business messaging does not have defining boundaries, but rather about extending professionalism and presence. Consider choosing full sentences over shorthand, respecting context and timing. Also, instant messaging should be treated as one of the several forms of communication, not as the sole one.

We present ourselves as dependable. This is the presence that people and companies trust, and it is what allows us to control and be in the driver’s seat of our own career and growth, rather than being passive and reacting to convenience.

Instant messaging etiquette does not promote limited expression but empowers it. By bringing awareness and consciousness into our communication choices, we achieve an enhanced sense of professionalism and reputation. This presence resonates beyond the screen and allows us to generate trust and promote clarity in every interaction.

Authored by Taylor Elizabeth - Emotional Intelligence and Etiquette Coach Founder and CEO of 'The Elegance Advisor'.

Views expressed by the author are their own.