just pondering about office work
If there's something I've learned when working at an office, it's how handy things like Facebook chat or MSN Messenger really are in a working environment.
I know it sounds silly to send a FB chat message to a person who is working just one room over or even in the same room, but I've quickly come to realise that one of the biggest problems with working in an office, especially in a job where you're the person everyone comes to for questions, is that you're constantly being interrupted by something or someone. So, yeah, it might be a small question that somebody is asking that only takes a minute or less to answer, but it still interrupts your work flow, and when those little interruptions pile up, it can be very stressful.
So, I find that whenever possible, it's more sensible and considerate to send an email or a chat message. Why? Because unlike with verbal face-to-face conversations, the respondent can choose the time when they pay attention to it. They hear a little ping from the machine, or see a flashing text, and if they're in the middle of writing an email or something, they can put it aside until they come to a natural pause in whatever it is they're doing and then respond. They still have to answer it, but they can do it on their own terms. Because hey, most questions aren't things that need an answer literally at that very second, and if they are, you can go the old-fashioned way. I know some people find it stupid, but I find it considerate to try to minimize the interruptions you cause this way.
I know it sounds silly to send a FB chat message to a person who is working just one room over or even in the same room, but I've quickly come to realise that one of the biggest problems with working in an office, especially in a job where you're the person everyone comes to for questions, is that you're constantly being interrupted by something or someone. So, yeah, it might be a small question that somebody is asking that only takes a minute or less to answer, but it still interrupts your work flow, and when those little interruptions pile up, it can be very stressful.
So, I find that whenever possible, it's more sensible and considerate to send an email or a chat message. Why? Because unlike with verbal face-to-face conversations, the respondent can choose the time when they pay attention to it. They hear a little ping from the machine, or see a flashing text, and if they're in the middle of writing an email or something, they can put it aside until they come to a natural pause in whatever it is they're doing and then respond. They still have to answer it, but they can do it on their own terms. Because hey, most questions aren't things that need an answer literally at that very second, and if they are, you can go the old-fashioned way. I know some people find it stupid, but I find it considerate to try to minimize the interruptions you cause this way.