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Short and Sweet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important things to remember is that not everyone is going to receive a written message the same way you will. That is to say, some of your coworkers will read every single word of your message with care, while others will skim. With that in mind, Brandon De Hoyos\u2019 advice to \u201cKeep messages brief and to the point\u201d (Hoyos) is extremely valuable. The less you say, the less room you allow for misinterpretation. Make your point with as little words as possible. If you feel as if the back and forth is going to take more than five minutes, \u201c…suggest a face-to-face meeting or a phone call to delve more deeply into the topic\u201d (Hoyos).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just Because You Can Doesn\u2019t Mean You Should<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ability to instantly strike up a conversation with a coworker is just as essential in the pandemic as it was before Covid. It may be even easier to do now than it was before. The majority of instant messaging tools are available on your smartphone in addition to your computer. On one hand, this means you can easily reach out to your coworkers the minute you need to. On the other hand, this means you can easily reach out to your coworkers the minute you need to. Covid has blurred the lines between home and work. The responsibility falls on us to respect our coworkers’ time away from work. Respect any boundaries that a coworker creates from themselves. At the same time, you need to create and adhere to boundaries for yourself as well. Even if you have the most brilliant idea of all time at 10 PM, you need to remember that \u201cMost messages can easily wait until the next business day\u201d (York). Think of it this way, if you wouldn\u2019t text this person outside of work hours in the past, then you shouldn\u2019t IM this person past work hours now, even if it is through a tool designated for work communication. Take a moment to remember that just because we have the ability to be connected all of the time doesn\u2019t mean that we should be. Respect the personal lives of those you work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re On the Clock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Above all else, remember that, even within the confines of an instant messaging chatbox, you are at work! As a working professional, it is imperative that you keep in mind to \u201cRefrain from bad-mouthing your co-workers, company or clients, or sharing too much personal information\u201d (eMazzanti Technologies). I am not saying that there is no room to communicate casually with coworkers you feel comfortable with over instant messages. However, don\u2019t say anything you wouldn\u2019t want your other coworkers to overhear. It is extremely easy to cultivate a false sense of privacy in these communication channels. After all, you are already at home and you may be going back and forth with somebody you have a genuine friendship with. Despite this, you are still talking within a channel controlled by your company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Times They Are A-Changin\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality of what it means to be at work is shifting in ways I couldn\u2019t have predicted a year ago. We have to embrace what is to come and be prepared for several different learning curves happening all at once. There are a lot of new concepts, methods, and approaches workers across all sorts of industries will have to learn quickly as we continue to adapt to a post-Covid world. I feel that adjusting the way we communicate with our coworkers to accommodate our new normal is an important first step in preparing ourselves for the additional challenges on the horizon. With a great team and support system, we can all rise to any occasion, which is why effective communication with those in the trenches with us is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/hbr.org\/2020\/03\/best-practices-for-instant-messaging-at-work<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.emazzanti.net\/7-instant-messaging-rules-for-the-workplace\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wowfall2020.londietmartin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/victoria-heath-MAGAXAYq_NE-unsplash-2.jpg?resize=640%2C383&ssl=1\")