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IM doesn’t have to Take Over

I don’t want to let employees use instant messaging because it will take over all communication methods. This is a common sentiment echoed by higher ups and company owners all over the world. But who ever said that instant messaging has to take over? There are ways to use this communication tool in correspondence with many others such as face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and email.

The main goal of instant messaging is to allow employees to communicate with each other in real time without having to pick up the telephone. Since most people in an office setting work largely on their computer, it only makes sense to hold conversations there as well. After all, it is much easier to type a quick note via instant messenger than it is to pick up a phone, hold it in one hand, and work with the other.

If you are worried about employees abusing an instant messaging application you should set ground rules from day one. In fact, this is something you should do no matter how you feel about instant messaging. When employees know what they should and should not be doing there is an above average chance that they will adhere. You don’t need to spend a lot of time putting together a handbook on instant messaging use and etiquette. Instead, a few basic rules are all you need in order to get started.

All in all, instant messaging does not have to take over the office and become the end-all in communication. Instead, it can work in cooperation with other modes of communication to ensure an efficient workplace. And who doesn’t want that?

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