Although emojis were invented in 1997, it gained popularity in the 2010s.
Thus, Internet users of all ages now use these tiny images to convey their emotions online.
Still, are emojis appropriate to use in the modern remote workplace?
Let’s find out.
The Pros of Using Emojis
Surprisingly, there are benefits to using emojis at work.
Adds a Personal Touch
Emojis can express emotions that might not be obvious through text. They can indicate when you find a message funny or sad.
This is especially important for remote workers who hardly ever see their coworkers or bosses face to face.
Emojis also keep things from being too formal, especially when communicating with virtual coworkers.
Using emojis in the workplace can also help build rapport with your clients as it adds tone and makes you sound more like a human.
Makes You Approachable
Utilizing emojis brings out a degree of honesty that helps build better working relationships with your clients.
Emojis also make you sound warmer and more approachable.
Reflects Your Personality
You can let your personality shine through emojis.
Remote work does tend to make people forget that there’s a person behind the screen.
Thus, let your personality shine through emojis! Again, it’ll make people more comfortable engaging with you, leading to better collaboration.
The Cons of Using Emojis
On the other hand, here are some cons to using emojis.
Meanings Aren’t Universal
While you can use smileys to express what you currently feel, they can also be misconstrued.
After all, not all of their meanings are universal.
For instance, if you’re a millennial remote worker, you might use the laughing emoji for something funny.
However, most Gen Z employees might use the crying emoji instead.
An emoji’s meaning always depends on how the receiver perceives them.
Can Make You Appear “Unprofessional”
In reality, emoticons have nothing to do with how competent you are at work.
Still, you might appear less professional and capable around older virtual coworkers.
Baby boomers might still hold on to the idea of a more traditional correspondence.
Dilutes the Intended Message
Another disadvantage of emojis at work is that they can make your message appear sarcastic or insincere.
To be on the safe side, avoid using smileys when delivering serious messages as these can diminish their gravity.
When Should or Shouldn’t You Use Emojis?
Now that you’ve learned both the pros and cons of using emojis, when is it appropriate to use them?
Internal Communication
These emoticons are better used amongst colleagues and perhaps clients or bosses you have enough rapport with.
They are already familiar with you and thus won’t have trouble matching the supposed tone of your message with your personality.
Avoid using emojis with outside correspondence because you don’t know how the recipient might take the message.
Plus, your emails and other messages would appear cleaner and more professional (in the traditional sense) without the smileys.
Email Sign Offs
Having emoticons attached to your email sign-off adds character to otherwise sterile emails.
As previously mentioned, it’ll make you appear more personable among your virtual workmates.
So, when should you avoid using emojis?
Business Prospects
When you’re exchanging emails and other forms of communication with a potential business client, it’s best to avoid using emojis.
After all, you don’t know how they’ll take your usage of such.
Formal Emails
Again, avoid emoticons if your email concerns something grave or important.
You want your message to be taken seriously, after all.
Context Matters
Navigating the topic of emoji usage is a tricky one. However, like everything else, you need to understand the context of the situation first.
Is the topic lighthearted or somber?
Further, you must read the room when it comes to how everyone communicates: are they casual or formal?
Lastly, if you’re in doubt, it’s best to stick with the usual emojis like the smiley face. (Don’t use obscure ones if you don’t want to be misunderstood.)
On that note, if you’re looking to work online, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. It’s always updated and has open roles in several industries.
Remote Staff has also been in business for 16 years (and counting)! So you can bet that we have a lot of experience when it comes to matching you with a client that best suits you.
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