Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Email Thing
MOST of us use email every day of our working lives, but few think about how it might land us or our employers in hot water.
Experts warn that negotiating the do's and don'ts of email can be a tricky area, and that "think before you send" is something every worker should make their motto.
On the plus side, the experts also say that those who are familiar with some simple rules of email etiquette and protocol are unlikely to offend or overstep any workplace boundaries.
"Only 7 per cent of our communication is actually the words we use -- 38 per cent is the sound of our voice and 55 per cent is body language.
while at work an email is a business medium, and should fit within the rules of business communication -- not casual chit chat.."
Sunday says for younger workers who have grown up on text, email and blogging, using email formally can be challenging.
"Less is more"
Sunday's next warning is to bear in mind that sending an email is final and can't be brought back.
Katz says emails are best avoided, where possible, if the content is not straightforward. "Get up and walk down the hall and have a conversation, or pick up the phone and actually speak." Sunday says this is doubly true where a disagreement is involved.
While sticking to rules of etiquette and grammar is important, staying within the law is vital. there are instances where email communication can lose you your job, cost you and your employer money, or expose you to criminal charges.
Schreier Joffe says a failure to take email communication seriously may be part of the reason email can be such a legal minefield.
Schreier Joffe says another danger is the ease of distribution of email.
"Something like the circulating of a sexually explicit joke or a picture that is offensive to someone can be a problem because it can be construed as sexual harassment." likely.
There are other behaviours which should always be avoided in the office.
Companies have a legal right to monitor and read employee emails when the employees have been informed it will be done.
"Certainly your employer as a rule can't regulate what you do outside work hours and whether or not you decide to put photos of your activities on Facebook or MySpace will be your choice."
if the outrageous activity you are posting pictures of has taken place at an after-work party or work-based social function.
Experts warn that negotiating the do's and don'ts of email can be a tricky area, and that "think before you send" is something every worker should make their motto.
On the plus side, the experts also say that those who are familiar with some simple rules of email etiquette and protocol are unlikely to offend or overstep any workplace boundaries.
"Only 7 per cent of our communication is actually the words we use -- 38 per cent is the sound of our voice and 55 per cent is body language.
while at work an email is a business medium, and should fit within the rules of business communication -- not casual chit chat.."
Sunday says for younger workers who have grown up on text, email and blogging, using email formally can be challenging.
"Less is more"
Sunday's next warning is to bear in mind that sending an email is final and can't be brought back.
Katz says emails are best avoided, where possible, if the content is not straightforward. "Get up and walk down the hall and have a conversation, or pick up the phone and actually speak." Sunday says this is doubly true where a disagreement is involved.
While sticking to rules of etiquette and grammar is important, staying within the law is vital. there are instances where email communication can lose you your job, cost you and your employer money, or expose you to criminal charges.
Schreier Joffe says a failure to take email communication seriously may be part of the reason email can be such a legal minefield.
Schreier Joffe says another danger is the ease of distribution of email.
"Something like the circulating of a sexually explicit joke or a picture that is offensive to someone can be a problem because it can be construed as sexual harassment." likely.
There are other behaviours which should always be avoided in the office.
Companies have a legal right to monitor and read employee emails when the employees have been informed it will be done.
"Certainly your employer as a rule can't regulate what you do outside work hours and whether or not you decide to put photos of your activities on Facebook or MySpace will be your choice."
if the outrageous activity you are posting pictures of has taken place at an after-work party or work-based social function.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Emails, a Trap for the unwary
> New motto for emails should be, "think before you send."
> Emails can be misinterpreted and misunderstanding quite often.
> Why?? When communicating with people the reciever gets 38% from the tone of voice used, 55% of the body language and only 7% of this are the owrds. Frightning!
> Nina Sunday, "without the benefit of body language and the tone of voice...perfectly good communication can seem terse or even nasty. You may think its brief but the recipent maybe see this differently."
> At work emails sshould be much more formal than chit chatting to friends
>"Less is more", when at work dont overfil inboxes with funny jokes or pictures save it for family and friends.
> If a disagreement arises go and talk to the person face to face not over emails.
>Sloppy grammer is a no no. Although emails are quick they should be kept professional.
> If emails are not followed corrrectly at work or kept professinal consequences such as, losing your job, costing you and your boss money and exposing yourself to criminal charges can appear.
> A thoughtless email can mean serious problems when it comes to certain material. For example, sexually explict jokes or even uploading pornagraphic pictures etc. BIG NO's!!!
> "A Company has a right to expect employees not to bring their company into disrepute even outside work."
> Emails can be misinterpreted and misunderstanding quite often.
> Why?? When communicating with people the reciever gets 38% from the tone of voice used, 55% of the body language and only 7% of this are the owrds. Frightning!
> Nina Sunday, "without the benefit of body language and the tone of voice...perfectly good communication can seem terse or even nasty. You may think its brief but the recipent maybe see this differently."
> At work emails sshould be much more formal than chit chatting to friends
>"Less is more", when at work dont overfil inboxes with funny jokes or pictures save it for family and friends.
> If a disagreement arises go and talk to the person face to face not over emails.
>Sloppy grammer is a no no. Although emails are quick they should be kept professional.
> If emails are not followed corrrectly at work or kept professinal consequences such as, losing your job, costing you and your boss money and exposing yourself to criminal charges can appear.
> A thoughtless email can mean serious problems when it comes to certain material. For example, sexually explict jokes or even uploading pornagraphic pictures etc. BIG NO's!!!
> "A Company has a right to expect employees not to bring their company into disrepute even outside work."
Email DO's and DONT'S!
As email is a form of communication that we use every day. It is important to realise the potential risks involved with the narrow understanding of email ediqutte. In order to explain this further, experts suggest the following pro's and con's of the construction of an email.
Pro's
- "Think before you send" should be everyone's motto.
- Add simple clear phrases to emails to accentuate friendliness and courtesy, such as ''thankyou'' or ''nice to talk to you".
- Use appropriate language to suit a situation/environment. For instance in a formal environment you will use "Dear Peter Bradbury, however in a informal environment you may instead use "Hi Peter".
Con's
- Since email is an electronic form of communication it can become easily misinterpreted or miscommunicated as it does not have the advantage of body language or voice elements.
- Using unappropriate language such as blasphemy or crudeness in a work email is unacceptable and penalties will apply.
- "Less is more" as it is an unacceptable blunder to send chain emails at work, it also wastes time and appears unprofessional.
- Seven percent of communication is words, thirty eight per cent is the sound of our voice, leaving just fifty per cent our body language.
- "Once an email is sent it can not be brought back" so make sure you have read over what you have written and consider the following;
- Six hour rule - If you have written an email in anger,fustration or other negative emotions, it may be unethical or a mistake to send, so walk away or do something else and then in six hours time re-read it, re-vise it and you may have a different approach that is not triggered with such emotion.
- Grammer Checks - Always spell check emails and read over them to check for grammatically incorrect grammer.
emails trap for the unwary
Emails a trap for the unwary
Experts warn that negotiating the do's and don'ts of email can be a tricky area, and that "think before you send" is something every worker should make their motto.
On the plus side, the experts also say that those who are familiar with some simple rules of email etiquette and protocol are unlikely to offend or overstep any workplace boundaries.
Email is a form of communication that leaves plenty of room for misinterpretation and misunderstanding
Put in phrases like 'thank you', 'nice to talk to you' or 'thank you for your time". They immediately set the tone as courteous and friendly."
Sunday says for younger workers who have grown up on text, email and blogging, using email formally can be challenging. On your first day at work "starting an email with 'hi guys' is clearly not appropriate and possibly offensive. You have to wait at least until you know the environment before being informal. It may then be OK to drop the formalities, but it may not."
"Less is more" is another rule best applied to workplace emails. Harassing colleagues or clients with unnecessary, unpleasant or even overly familiar email contact is a no-no. That includes filling their inbox with jokes, cute pictures or inspirational mottos
Pause before sending if the email contains anything even slightly controversial or confrontational.
While sticking to rules of etiquette and grammar is important, staying within the law is vital.
Schreier Joffe says another danger is the ease of distribution of email. "It's the press of a button and the information has gone to 100 people.
Social networking sites have provided a whole new set of curly problems. But there are exceptions and even just activities that are not advisable for anyone with ambition. "
Schreier Joffe says problems will arise, however, if the outrageous activity you are posting pictures of has taken place at an after-work party or work-based social function.
Experts warn that negotiating the do's and don'ts of email can be a tricky area, and that "think before you send" is something every worker should make their motto.
On the plus side, the experts also say that those who are familiar with some simple rules of email etiquette and protocol are unlikely to offend or overstep any workplace boundaries.
Email is a form of communication that leaves plenty of room for misinterpretation and misunderstanding
Put in phrases like 'thank you', 'nice to talk to you' or 'thank you for your time". They immediately set the tone as courteous and friendly."
Sunday says for younger workers who have grown up on text, email and blogging, using email formally can be challenging. On your first day at work "starting an email with 'hi guys' is clearly not appropriate and possibly offensive. You have to wait at least until you know the environment before being informal. It may then be OK to drop the formalities, but it may not."
"Less is more" is another rule best applied to workplace emails. Harassing colleagues or clients with unnecessary, unpleasant or even overly familiar email contact is a no-no. That includes filling their inbox with jokes, cute pictures or inspirational mottos
Pause before sending if the email contains anything even slightly controversial or confrontational.
While sticking to rules of etiquette and grammar is important, staying within the law is vital.
Schreier Joffe says another danger is the ease of distribution of email. "It's the press of a button and the information has gone to 100 people.
Social networking sites have provided a whole new set of curly problems. But there are exceptions and even just activities that are not advisable for anyone with ambition. "
Schreier Joffe says problems will arise, however, if the outrageous activity you are posting pictures of has taken place at an after-work party or work-based social function.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Twentieth Century Girl in a Twenty-First Century Tech World
I admit it – I’m an unashamed tech geek. Since turning 18, I have owned the following:
Considering that I am only just now about to turn 26, that’s a lot of gear in the space of less than a decade!
I am also very well-versed in the world of social networking. I have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LiveJournal, along with a number of email addresses, and barring any interruptions to my home wireless Internet I am connected to all three sites on a daily basis.
Twitter receives most of my attention – since signing up at the end of January 2009, I have racked up more than 6,000 tweets (yes, I am very proud of this number!) and am following slightly more than 200 other users, all but 84 of which are following me back. I tend to steer clear of using the Twitter site to update my account, instead making use of a program called TweetDeck. Many of my favourite musicians, comedians, authors and actors have Twitter accounts – my favourite accounts are owned by the bands Hanson and 30 Seconds To Mars (with 30 Seconds To Mars’ members having their own individual accounts that I also follow), and the actors Nathan Fillion and Misha Collins. I keep myself deliberately ignorant of celebrity gossip, and so Twitter has become my favourite way of keeping track of what the celebrities I am fans of are up to. This is generally because anything they’re tweeting about tends to be a lot more accurate and reliable than what can be found in magazines or elsewhere on the Web. Twitter also helps me stay connected to my friends who live elsewhere in Australia and around the world. As many of the tweeters I follow are fellow writers, it’s a quick and easy way to get updates for their stories.
I also spend quite a bit of time on LiveJournal, which is the Web’s largest online journal network. I have been a LiveJournal member since 2003, back when the site was still invitation-only, and have owned my current paid-for account since 2004. Likewise with Twitter, it’s all about connecting with friends both new and old, the difference being that I use Twitter for quick updates, and LiveJournal for longer, more thoughtful posts. LiveJournal is also where I post my writing in the first instance, before any new chapters are uploaded to my website, and has resulted in a wider audience for my work. I keep access to my LiveJournal restricted to those already on my contact list, the only public posts being chapters of my stories and an entry where other users request access to my journal (and where I can accept or reject on a case-by-case basis), and so I can be a little more open than I would be elsewhere on the Web.
Unlike Twitter and LiveJournal, however, where I am more than happy to follow and befriend people I don’t already know, I use Facebook strictly for keeping in contact with family, friends within Australia and from overseas that I have met on other sites, TAFE classmates, and old classmates from high school. I didn’t join until September 2007, and until then was very reluctant to do so – it was my penfriend who encouraged me to sign up, so that we could keep in touch between letters. In recent months old friends from the first high school I attended have located me (even though my name on Facebook is slightly different to that which they knew me by), and I’ve also reconnected with my cousins in England. I don’t play games on Facebook very often, or even visit regularly (instead preferring to update my status using TweetDeck), but I collect badges (through an application called Pieces of Flair), test my knowledge of TV shows and movies I like, and connect with other members through Facebook groups that I’ve joined.
I honestly don’t see any of the tech I use as a detriment. I know when it’s time to disconnect, and even though I love being connected to the wider world I am able to switch off when I need to. I have to sleep sometime, after all! ;)
- Five computers
- Seven mobile phones
- Three MP3 players
- Three digital still cameras
- One digital video camera
- One iPod
Considering that I am only just now about to turn 26, that’s a lot of gear in the space of less than a decade!
I am also very well-versed in the world of social networking. I have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LiveJournal, along with a number of email addresses, and barring any interruptions to my home wireless Internet I am connected to all three sites on a daily basis.
I honestly don’t see any of the tech I use as a detriment. I know when it’s time to disconnect, and even though I love being connected to the wider world I am able to switch off when I need to. I have to sleep sometime, after all! ;)
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