Instant Messaging Etiquette for Busy Managers
Being the boss means you're busy; that goes without saying. But like any good boss, you want to ensure you're available -- physically and intellectually -- for your employees. Traditionally, that has meant having an "open-door policy," but here in the age of hover cars and laser cats, instant messaging can take the place of physically being in your office. But be careful: The way you use your instant messaging program might be sending unexpected signals to your employees.
Recently, Lifehacker published an interesting take on IM status etiquette, and I realized that some of the article's points apply directly to IM policies in the business world.
The bottom line is that if you seriously want to be available to your employees via IM, you need to follow through by keeping your status current and relevant throughout the day. Here are the unintended messages you broadcast with a status that never changes:
Your status is "available" all the time. The advantage of IM is its immediacy. With e-mail, you never know when a reply will come, but if someone sees you are available via IM, there's an excellent chance they can get an immediate answer to a quick, important question. If you look like you're always available, even when you're not, IM becomes no different than e-mail.
Your status is "away" all the time. Are you ever really there? Like a 24/7 status of "available," this one is pretty much meaningless -- with the added bonus that a status of "away" sends the clear message that your open-door policy is a sham, and you'd prefer not to be bothered. That's a bad message to send, intentionally or not.
Your status is invisible. This is potentially the worst one of all, since it sends a message that the IM tool is there for your personal convenience, and not the convenience of others. Like a cell phone that is always turned off except when the owner wants to place a call. Don't be that boss.
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