Dear The Anguillian Readers,
My name is Lorena Lobo and I have been living in Anguilla since early 2019. I am a Learning and Development professional with 15-Plus years of experience in the Human Resources area. I would like to share my passion & experience with everyone that is interested in starting a career or looking for professional growth.
We are going to start talking about Nettiquete. Do you know what it means?
Considering that most of the corporate interactions take place through virtual environment, it is important to observe some housekeeping rules in order to avoid discomfort and misunderstandings. Studies say that 85% of communication is non-verbal. So, if you want to share information without the use of body language, tone of voice and eye contact, you should pay attention to how those messages are delivered.
The expression “netiquette” is a neologism that originated from the fusion of the words net (which means network) and the word etiquette (set of norms of social conduct). The “netiquette” establishes guidelines for good communication via the web and values harmonious behaviours. After all, rules are necessary in any kind of social interaction, and the virtual environment is not an exception to that.
Incorporate routine, where speed and objectivity are indispensable, the rules of virtual etiquette are extremely important. Could you name some of the “netiquette” rules you actually observed for online communication in a business environment? If your answer is no, I can help you with this task by presenting guidelines related to writing emails, professional networking interaction and online meetings. I hope you all take advantage of the suggestions and start strengthening your personal brand.
When you write emails, it is important to pay attention to some detail such as:
• Present the subject clearly and objectively: the “subject” field must be carefully elaborated, as it is the first mention of the issue to be addressed. The clearer and more objective the topic, the faster and more efficient the response will be.
• Start with a greeting, according to the degree of formality required by the situation: do you start conversations with other people without even saying “Hello”? Probably not. It is very common for people to forget this small detail. Speed and objectivity do not eliminate the need for a cordial greeting.
• Do not use “emojis” in a corporate email: the “smileys” are often helpful in clarifying whether a person is being ironic or irritated. However, these should not be used in the business environment, as they can question the seriousness and professionalism of those who write.
• Double-check spelling and grammar: we often exchange emails with people we don’t even know in person. So, the first impression of you is made through how you write. Therefore, it is important to take care of the spelling, grammar and punctuation of the text. Also avoid the use of acronyms or internet slang (LOL, PLZ, OMG, for example).
• Be clear and extremely careful when writing about third parties: poorly written text can give rise to different interpretations and e-mail can be easily forwarded to others.
• Never send e-mails to several contacts with the address list visible: the e-mail address should never be shared without authorisation. If you want to send electronic correspondence to several contacts, just do so with a blind copy. Exposing third party email is extremely impolite.
Also, you should be mindful about how you interact with people in professional networks such as LinkedIn or Glassdoor. The way you position yourself may contribute or not to your professional image.
• Do not send invitations based on lies: if you do not know the person but want to connect with them, be sincere and explain the reasons that led you to make the request. Lying that you know, did business or studied with someone makes a bad impression. Who will want to connect with a liar?
• Be very careful when exposing controversial opinions: when dealing with a controversial issue, it is worthwhile to be very prudent and thoughtful. Everything you post will be stored for a long time. Thus, if you are arrogant, rude or impolite, you may compromise your reputation.
• Stop posting irrelevant information about your life: in a professional network, unnecessary exposure in addition to sounding self-centred, overloads your contacts’ timeline with uninteresting content.
• Be careful with what you share: think thoroughly about texts, videos, photos and “likes” you decide to share. Not only you can be polluting your contacts’ timeline with repetitive subjects, but also giving the impression of an inconvenient person with no opinion.
Last but not least are the “nettiquete” tips about virtual meetings. How do you prepare and conduct yourself in a live online meeting?
• Set up your space: find a quiet place with minimal background noise or movement, eliminate distractions, check the lightning and angle your camera so your face can be clearly seen.
• Test technology before the meeting starts: make sure everything is perfectly running> internet connection, microphones and speakers, do not disturb functions.
• Prepare for the conversation: use speaking points to keep discussion flowing and bring clear questions to foster interaction.
• Build true connections: join the video call on time, speak looking at the camera slowly and clearly, use facial expressions rather than hand gestures and don’t forget to smile.
Now you have enough knowledge to consider yourself an expert in nettiquete. Let´s use the guidelines and improve our virtual interactions?
Lorena Lobo is a Learning and Development professional with 12-Plus years of experience managing talents and developing new leaders. She has an MBA in Human Resources Management and a Life & Career Coaching Certification. She is Brazilian and after working for different hotel chains in Latin America, joined Four Seasons Anguilla in 2019.
