Years ago, using emojis on business emails was considered taboo. It was often misinterpreted as a sign of unseriousness due to the idea that it takes away the professionalism of whatever message the content was trying to convey. This is why for the longest time, there’s been an unwritten rule whereas emojis are exclusive for texting and chatting only on topics unrelated to work.
On the other hand, that’s not always the case these days. People—whether it’s the employer, employee, or client—want a more humanized way of communication. Emojis are becoming well accepted as part of the conversation to express emotions, especially if you are part of a team that uses online communication tools such as Slack, WhatsApp, Skype, and emails. Thus, emojis are now a normal part to be able to communicating to a wider audience when it’s used for marketing.
Despite the fact that emojis can convey a stronger emotion in the message one person wants to relay, there’s always a question if it is okay to use. Is it okay to use any emoji when communicating about work? What is the limit when using one to maintain professionalism?
In this blog, we will dive into the top three best tips on properly using emojis at work.
Be Mindful Which Emoji To Use
Currently, there are approximately more than 3,000 different types of emojis that you can use. However, each emoji vary the type of emotion it expresses. In short, not all of them have the same professional and good meaning as the others.
With so many emojis out there, it is important for you to understand using your common sense which can be used at work. Avoid randomly using any emoji that may deliver a different message to what you are trying to communicate to someone. Known for being an open interpretation, an emoji can put you in an uncomfortable situation when you use it without properly considering the outcome.
Be Discreet
Using emojis alone can trigger miscommunication if used willfully. The same goes when using uncommon emojis when others are not familiar with using one on their messages. It’s obvious that even if you don’t know your coworkers on a personal level, you will at least know the way they act in the workplace.
So, before using an emoji in your message, you should keep the situation in mind. Think of how the reader would feel if you were in their shoes and read something you’re not sure of. There are two things that may happen when you’re not able to handle the situation because of one emoji; the person who reads it would let it slide or would make a big deal of it.
Don’t Rely Too Much On Emojis
Admit it or not, there are days when you don’t want to type a lot and would depend on using emojis to send a message. But, in reality, you should not make it a habit. The truth is using more emojis than typing words in messages can make you look less competent and unprofessional in work communications. This is due to the fact that the other person who reads your message in the form of emojis may be left disappointed and sometimes confused—for the uncommon emojis—to understand the thought. Despite your good intentions, the other person might not take your message seriously.
Consider emojis like slang which is much better to use in casual conversations instead. So, never use it when communicating with potential clients so the business transaction does not go south.
For example, imagine receiving two emails with the same message but one email was written the traditional way while the other has been filled with emojis. Which one do you think looks and sounds more professional although both have the same content of texts? Chances are, the email is filled with emojis, despite the message it sounds less serious which could lead to someone, like a client, not taking it seriously.
Remember that impressions are important, especially when you’re trying to build a good working relationship. So, before communications—whether via email or chat—become casual and comfortable with your coworkers and clients, professionalism must be established first to maintain properly separate work from personal matters.
The Bottom Line
While emojis have their purposes that could help establish and maintain a good working relationship, always remember that just like words, it has their limitations. You should understand the situation of where and how to use it to deliver a message. One simple emoji for you might mean a different context to someone else depending on where it’s used.
Words in emails are usually platonic but could have a tone depending on how their sentences are constructed and written. Emojis are like add-ons to ensure conveying the right message and idea. But you should know when it is needed and when it can be too much as mentioned earlier, an emoji can deliver a strong emotion.
Therefore, using emojis at work communication is okay, especially today when we’re adapting to the trend. However, you should not always rely too much on it or just send it exclusively as a response without supporting words as it may backfire despite having no mean intentions.
