Are you a fan of emojis? Do you find it easier to convey your feelings by using them? The way we communicate digitally has changed over the years. Mobile companies add new emojis to include all possible kinds of people, food, animals, hobbies, and feelings every year.
Our text messaging habits have evolved with the times. We’ve sent a message to family and friends that only contained emojis at one point or another. No use of words whatsoever. But, should they be used in the workplace? The responses in a recent survey were divided equally between Yes and No, with views hinged on age.
Young professionals between ages 18-29 find emojis proper for the workplace.
What are the benefits of using emojis in workplace communication?
They find using emojis beneficial as it helps them communicate with team members and colleagues more effectively. It adds a lighter positive tone to a message that employees can easily misconstrue. Without emojis, people can misread the tone and intent of the notes and correspondence.
Emojis make communicating more fun and strengthen efficiency. There is no need to use an interpreter to understand emojis despite differences in the native tongue, for they are universal. Moreover, emojis make people seem more approachable, mainly if their first impressions include stern and firm. Workplaces can view emojis to align communication channels with real-life interactions.
However, older professionals aged 45 and older view emojis in the workplace as unprofessional.
Why should emojis be avoided at work?
Increased use of emojis in the workplace emails and messaging gives off a perception of incompetence. For them, there are other more effective ways of communicating without lowering the bar of professionalism. Also, employees who use emojis come off as annoying.
In addition, a study on gender-based reactions to emojis showed that women tend to view emojis with a negative bias compared to men, who look at them slightly more positively.
Have you ever received an email from brands? Did their use of emojis help you decide to support or reject them? Avoid emojis when dealing with customers and prospects, which may lead to rejection.
With the pros and cons listed, it would be best if team members, particularly new ones, would forego the use of emojis when sending a communication to their superiors.
It would be wise to read the room and the level of formality that the company goes with and use your discretion.