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Instant Messaging, once a personal feature on our computers and public email domains, has now become fairly commonplace in corporate offices. Used as an inter-community real-time messaging service, it has a lot of pluses and minuses associated with it. When you've got a lot to do and not a lot of time to waste, it can be irritating to have to field multiple message boxes. Here's what you do when you're too busy to chit chat:
- Evaluate your work: Lots of tech-related companies necessitate the need for quick communications. If you work in one of those companies, you're getting paid to try and juggle your responsibilities accordingly. If not, you're not required to participate.
- Block: Most messaging services have a 'block' feature, something that allows you to not receive any messaging or at least remain 'invisible' or 'inactive.' It's not an offensive thing to do, and you shouldn't have to apologize for needing to work on work time.
- "Busy": If you're unable to cut off all communication ties for some reason, you can simply let the other person know you are unable to communicate by stating that you're busy or that you'll talk later.
- Talk with HR: If it becomes a problem and your coworkers won't quit, you may want to chat with HR about implementing some regulations on IM-ing.
- If you're the one trying to message, be sure you always check to see if the other party is free to chat. Set up away messages when you're unavailable, and when you are available- keep memo's brief and to the point.
Making Etiquette Easy,
Susan K. Medina
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