They’ve added IM at work. Quite frankly, I don’t see the advantage when I can just e-mail or pick up the phone, but whatever. Anyhoo, being way behind on this 'puter stuff, I need to know the whys and wherefores and do’s and don’ts of IMing. I know not to type IN ALL CAPS, and apparently there’s some discussion on whether “pinging,” or checking to see if someone is there, is necessary. I know it’s for quick questions that don’t need a paper trail, and that I must still remain professional.
IMing is good if you need to work on something with someone who is in another room. You need to get together for all the big stuff of course, but for all the little “Oh, should I do this like this, or like that, do you think?”
But as for etiquette, essentially just make sure that you’re not IMing the same person eighty times a day. Similarly, make sure to flip it to “Busy” when you don’t want people IMing you. There’s not really anything more to it than that.
People don’t always check their email immediately, and IMing is good for “Hey, did you say to use the new TPS cover sheet or the old one?” or “I’m almost done with that program. Did you want me to put it in production or wait?” It’s often faster and more efficient than calling someone and taking them away from their computer.
The biggest thing I can think of, like Sage Rat said, is to make sure you set yourself as “Away” when you are away. I think most of the major IM clients have different degrees of away - be right back, out to lunch, etc. This is handy so people know when to expect you back.
If you can figure it out I suggest making some custom away messages like “Be right back” (for when you are in the potty or got up for a second), “At Lunch 12 - 1pm”, “In a meeting with [boss who takes a long time for meetings]” etc. That way if someone needs you via IM and you’re not there, they know you’re not there and they know how long to wait.
You can also make descriptive away messages on-the-fly that you don’t save like “budget meeting 2-4” or “find me at jane’s desk”.
Also get used to typing BRB when you’re in the middle of a conversation and will be right back, and either “back” or “bk” when you return.
My office is “virtual” and we use IM exclusively. It is great, I think. I’m sure it takes some getting used to, though.
One thing- do NOT under any circumstances say anything bad about someone else in IM (well, or e-mail) because that absolutely will be the one time you clicked on the wrong person and blip- it’s done. You can’t unscramble an egg and you would be amazed at how often this happens. I swear I think it’s a subconcious thing.
Anyway, no other rules then what others have added.
IM is invaluable at work. For example, you might have a very pushy person on the phone who insists on talking to someone. With IM, you can communicate with your coworker and determine if the matter really is urgent. This is invaluable in an office where people are on the phone often.
I also like it if I know that calling a certain person will result in a long call. By sending IMs, I can get an answer without a 30 minute chit chat.
People don’t check their email as often as they should. However, this is understandable in an office where there are far too many email sent.
My company is spread out across the country. I frequently talk to people in Wisconsin and Kentucky as well as my co-workers in other cities here in FL. The biggtest advantage is the savings on long distance phone calls. It’s lots cheaper to IM or e-mail.
I find that I like it but I never remember to change my settings to reflect when I’m not at my desk. Maybe I’ll have to start doing that. :smack:
The biggest advantage to IM in my opinion is that it fills a communication gap: it’s more immediate and realtime than email, but it’s not so intrusive and pressing as a phone call.
Etiquette-wise, remember to back off when someone says BRB (be right back). They may be talking on the phone or have someone standing in front of them.
As BoBettie implied, always assume that the person you’re IMing has someone looking over their shoulder. You never know who else might see their screen, so don’t send anything confidential or highly personal unless you’re 100% sure they’re alone (and that you have the right person).
For us it’s invaluable when we’re on a call, and need to communicate a though/comment to co-workers who may or may not be on the call with us. It allows multiple threads of communcation to occur at the same time.
Great for quicky advice/questions/comments that don’t require a phone call.
It’s something we’re considering implementing. I’m a librarian, and I can see it being useful (because some people aren’t like me and aren’t constantly checking their e-mail) if, say, I’m on the phone with a patron and need to confirm something, or if somebody at the desk with me wants to know, “Should I call Security? Is he bothering you?”, etc.
