Instant messaging (IM) is now a common way of communicating in companies which enjoys great popularity as employees can communicate in real time and easily see that someone does not want to be disturbed at the moment without having to ask him in advance. On the other hand, IM disturbs employees from in work the same way as e-mail does and can cause a loss of productivity. CBS News therefore brought some peices of expert advice on what principles should be followed in internal communication via IM.
Respect others' communication preferences
Find out in advance what form of communication your coworkers prefer. Some people prefer to use e-mail or telephone rather than IM.
Remain as short as possible
IM is not a tool for long debates. It is intended to exchange information rapidly and save time.
Tell others when you are available
Use the "away" or "unavailable" status when you do not want to be disturbed. Set up automatic messages to inform your colleagues that you are not available at the moment and you will contact them later.
Do not write anything you would not say out loud
Anything you write through IM can get into the wrong hands. Therefore, follow the rules of professional communication, including omittin unnecessary smilies and incomprehensible acronyms.
Do not expect an immediate response every time
Even IM cannot guarantee that the person you contacted will respond. If you do not get your answers, wait patiently. Beware of passively aggressive comments like "Hello?" The other party could interpret such acomments negatively even if you did not think them negatively.
Do not argue via IM
Any quarrels via IM end in the same way as via e-mail - by misunderstandings. If you need to clarify something, use the phone or meet in person.
-Kk-