Manners in a Tech Savvy World

Most of us were raised to follow certain methods of etiquette for all sorts of situations but with the rise of the digital age, we have added an entirely new set of dos and don?ts. Some might say that there are really no clear cut rules regarding propriety when it comes to communicating using our new technology but they would be wrong.
High tech communication can still hold potential for rudeness and could be rendered useless if not used properly. There are some basic guidelines that we should adhere to as to retain our courtesy both in the physical and virtual world. Here are some of them.

Telephone communications
A typical employee?s work day used to be comprised of hours spent on the company phone which as usually a landline, keeping them in the office and at their desk. With today?s mobile technology or a sophisticated phone service like RingCentral?s, ?employees and business owners now have the ability to have business correspondence no matter where they are and while it is useful, it may lead to undesired behavior depending on the circumstances.

If the conversation involves sensitive information, it would be best to wait until you are in a more private area before taking the call. Also, do not use the speakerphone when you are in a public place because this could lead to both users having to yell as well as annoy the people around them. Speaking of speakerphones, do not put someone on it before asking and make sure that they know they are on speakerphone. They might divulge personal details that could lead to future humiliation. Give the person on the other end your full attention. This applies to normal conversations and must not be forgotten when using the phone.

Computer communications
The computer has given us so many other channels of communication that we would have never thought of previously. These days, we make use of e-mail, private messaging, and video conferencing for personal and business purposes. Just like the latest methods of phone communication, this is just as useful but has its own set of rules to follow.

For instance, instant messaging may seem like a godsend and you may use it indiscriminately but please make it a point to check if the person you are messaging is not busy. Keep your messages brief and to the point without omitting important details. For e-mails, avoid sending forwarded messages and chain letters.

These serve no purpose and will most likely annoy and not amuse the recipient. When using video conferencing, remember that you are still visible up to a certain point. Dress accordingly and make sure you are presentable. Stay focused on the person you are video conferencing with and treat them as if they were right in front of you. If you receive a message with a question, make it a point to respond as soon as possible, if not with the answer then a message that says you will get back to them.

Author?s Bio:
Henry Conrad is a 29-year-old game developer from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from gaming and being a tech junky, he also dabbles in creative writing, which allows him to create great storylines and backgrounds for his characters. Follow me on Twitter and join me in Google +

Source: http://www.itmashable.com/2012/11/manners-in-tech-savvy-world.html

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