IM Proves Useful In Reducing Workplace Interruptions
Posted by Ted Hopton on June 4, 2008
I’ve long had mixed feelings about instant messaging during the workday. Clearly, there are times when it turns into a time waster. Still, it’s much easier to “kill off” an IM discussion and get back to work than it is if you’ve wandered over to someone’s desk to ask for something.
Social etiquette requires you to make some small talk, inquire about your colleague’s interests, etc. In other words, in person (and on the phone) we should — rightly — interact with peers in a friendly, personal way, because that’s the right way to act. But that’s not terribly efficient, and if you can get the info you need, instead, through a 30-second instant message chat and then get back to work with a quick, “thx so much, ttyl” then I can see why it has been found to be less intrusive.
Employers seeking to decrease interruptions may want to have their workers use instant messaging software. Research shows that when IMs are used as a substitute for other, more disruptive forms of communication such as phone, email, and face-to-face conversations, they lead to more conversations on the computer, but briefer & more productive ones.
And it is respectful to IM someone to say, “got a minute?” because that gives them a much easier “out” if they really don’t want to be interrupted. Instead of feeling they are being rude by telling you on the phone, “hey, could you call back later?” they can accept your gracious inquiry by saying, “can you call me at 1?”
IM certainly does have a place in business. But there’s more work to be done to define just what that place is.
