Quick Work IM etiquette poll

Social
25

Sometimes I do this and we end up just chatting to each other and I never get around to asking them to do the thing :frowning: but that is probably good overall :slight_smile:

2 Likes
26

I tend to just email instead. Getting an IM makes me quite anxious and as if I have to answer straight away, and often interrupts my thought process, so I assume it’s going to do the same to the person I want information from.

2 Likes
27

Annoying but usually more productive

1 Like
28

Depends on the person, I often say something like this:

Hi Stacy, hope you’re well
16:08

Sorry to bother you, just wondered if you’d had a chance to look at x thing yet? Gary has a meeting with exec on Monday and would like to provide the figures if possible
16:09

3 Likes
29

And also nicer and you get to say “did you have a nice weekend?” or what have you as well in a genuine “it’s nice speaking to a person” way

30

If your status is “available” you’re fair game imo.

5 Likes
31

Genuinely only one step above ‘people who leave voicemails’ in my contempt rankings

1 Like
32

Or below, whichever one is ‘slightly less contempt’

33

Some of the nerds I work with have this URL in their Teams status permanently. The logic is sound, but it’s a bit “you are clearly all idiots”

2 Likes
34

Yeah this. Will usually type the second part first and save it in my clipboard so they don’t have a chance to answer the first question before I send it

3 Likes
35

This is a really exceptional example of generic business request talk. I really enjoyed reading it.

2 Likes
36

Always go with “hope all is well” rather than “how are you?” because I obviously don’t really care but this means I’m not soliciting a response

7 Likes
37

Depends who it is. Usually it’s just hey man, do you mind ______ / just checking can I _____
Then lots of amazing/brilliant/thanks!! Exclamations!!

38

also liberal use of the :call_me_hand: emoji tbh

7 Likes
39

I always go with “how are you?” because I obviously DO really care and I AM soliciting a response!

1 Like
41

I like a ‘hi’ at the start because when it’s not there I sense that the person isn’t being polite and might be angry with me and it puts my anxiety through the roof. Maybe not the same for everyone and it’s obviously down to interpretation and I see how it could be read as insincere or slightly tokenistic but I appreciate people taking the time to type an extra couple of words to round off the corners a bit, especially when working from home and not having the benefit of being able to read body language, tone of voice, etc.

4 Likes
42

Tell you what else I hate - when someone types QQ instead of writing the words Quick Query. Exactly how much time are you saving?

2 Likes
43

Love those sorts of dm’s.

Hey.
Hiya.
How’re you?
Great. You?

oh 6pm already bye

2 Likes
44

One of the Bulgarian guys has obviously been on a “British cultural awareness” course or something so always starts every interaction with a brief exchange about the weather before cracking on, does it in Teams chats as well as calls/meetings. I really like it.

11 Likes
45
  • Yes, quick query
  • Quick question

0 voters