When it comes to communicating at work it’s a given that we should adapt our style dependent on the situation.  In this digital age it is even more essential that we are all able to learn to adapt our tone of language and how we talk to multiple people, often across the globe and with different starting points and competing opinions when using digital platforms.

The importance for you to feel confident and professional has never been greater when it comes to using your digital voice.  To help you we’ve listed some pointers below, for you to consider when communicating at work, whether that’s emailing your boss or messaging a colleague.

  • Remember your audience: It is okay to change language based on the seniority of the person you are communicating with, or how well you know them, but be careful to not be overfamiliar whilst communicating in the workplace.
  • Ask their preference: With the rise of instant messaging platforms for work, think if what you’re saying can be a quick message, or needs the space an email can provide. If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to ask their preference and adapt accordingly.
  • Watch out for your tone: The workplace is a busy environment, and inboxes are often full of emails, so it’s best to make your point or request quickly and concisely. However, there’s a fine line between getting to the point and coming across as rude. Try not to be too blunt, and if in doubt ask a colleague to check your email before sending.

You can also use our Email etiquette tool to look at writing and replying to different emails with the audience in mind and test your skills, but remember it is for you to judge who your audience is so you can easily adapt your style.