Working effectively in a remote team also means knowing how to adopt the best behavioral and communication strategies. Following online etiquette and communicating effectively with team members helps build trust and avoid frustrating miscommunications, which are much more common in virtual environments.
So what are the best attitudes and habits to adopt when it comes to “netiquette”?
1. Welcome the new team members
Especially when it comes to virtual collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, it’s important to welcome new members, particularly in channels that have been active for some time. Onboarding is a crucial step in remote work, and this process can also serve as an opportunity to redesign the employee experience in line with 2021 HR trends.
2. Use emojis 😊
In chats or internal communications within your team, it can be helpful to use emojis, which allow you to express emotions related to the message you’re conveying. However, it’s important not to overdo it by including too many emojis, as this can make the message seem inappropriate. Furthermore, their use should always be evaluated based on the context: using emojis in a very formal email is strongly discouraged. A very useful tool is Emojipedia, a veritable online encyclopedia of emojis.
3. Pay attention to punctuation
Writing “grazie” is different from “grazie.” Adding a period at the end of a message can give the words a completely different meaning; in the second case, the period reinforces a negative emotion by signaling the end of a conversation. Even in this case, however, it’s important to consider the context—many people are accustomed to frequently using periods at the end of their messages—so pay attention to how the person you’re talking to expresses themselves. It’s a matter of habit, not just netiquette.
4. What time is it, anyway!?
Thanks to the internet, there are no closing times or holidays; however, it’s a good idea to be mindful of others’ schedules. Unless it’s an urgent matter, it’s best not to send messages after 10 p.m. If you’re working late at night, you can save your messages or emails as drafts and send them the next morning, or schedule them to be sent automatically.
5. Less is more
The best messages are short, concise, and to the point. When sending emails, pay attention to the subject line: include a specific reference so it will be easier to find the email later. The same applies to virtual collaboration channels: using subject lines and writing short, clear messages (perhaps including links to documents) makes the conversation flow more smoothly and easier for all participants to follow.
If you’d like to learn more with additional tips and tricks on best practices for online behavior and remote work, the K-HUB on hi – habit inspiring platform offers a variety of resources and in-depth guides dedicated to digital etiquette: how to best conduct yourself on Microsoft Teams, the rules for holding meetings and sharing documents effectively, while respecting others and avoiding unpleasant situations.
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