Tech Etiquettes for Today

Facebook, Twitter, email, phone calls, texting – these are the norms in communicating today, so much that we sometimes end up abusing them. You only need common sense to know the following tech etiquettes, but a little reminding won’t do harm. Whether you hold one of the most sought after accounting jobs, or you hold one of the higher executive jobs in the company, you are not exempt from minding your manners when communicating using technology. Here are some tips on how you can make the most out of technology without disrespecting other people.

• If your Twitter conversations get longer and too personal, take them to DM. You don’t want your Twitter timeline to be flooded by tweets to a single person that are all irrelevant and boring to read.
• If all you want to reply to an email is “Thanks!” just skip it. Your message will clog your inbox.
• If you are talking with somebody in person, avoid glancing at your cell phone for messages. If your phone suddenly rings, excuse yourself and quickly check if you need to answer it.

• Don’t take calls in the checkout line, in a restaurant or in a waiting room. That can be disrespectful to the other people, and you might not be able to clearly hear the person you’re talking to.
• If you are able to use the WiFi of your neighbor, make sure that you use it well. Don’t hog it (no heavy streaming and downloading), and know that it isn’t as secure as you want it to be.
• Always ask somebody if they are free for a chat before you get to an extensive instant messaging chat.
• Skip all the old school email stuff – emoticons, colored fonts, gif images and shouting in all caps.
• Send your response to meeting invitations promptly. You don’t want to be the last person to send a “No.”
• Facebook is a place for sharing. If all you do there is brag, then that would not serve its purpose well. Make sure that you also like and comment on your friends’ posts.
• Know when a written note is more appropriate than sending a Thank You email. For wedding gifts or those received by mail, a written note is always more appropriate.
• If you are one of the very few people who still have an answering machine, make sure that your greeting is professional and not lengthy.