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Should you text your boss?
I guess I hadn’t thought much about it until recently when I finally made the leap to a Blackberry--the line between communicating with your boss by email versus shooting off a quick text message. With texting pretty much the preferred method of communication for millennials (and even some baby boomers for that matter), it’s only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace at work … and with your boss.
Which leads me back to my original question … is it okay to text your boss? And, if so, should your message be more formal than if you were texting another coworker or friend?
Content matters. I can definitely think of occasions where texting your boss would be okay if not encouraged. For example, I think most bosses (myself included) who are even remotely tech savvy would welcome a quick update on the status of a project you’re working on or a summary of the meeting you had with an important client.
However, in speaking with colleagues, most agree that texting usually isn’t a great vehicle for initiating discussions about human resource issues—especially those that involve promotions or raises. Call me old fashioned (after all, I am 35), but there is something about broaching those types of discussions in person; an email or text just doesn’t cut it for me.
“R u going to the meeting?”
There’s also something to be said for maintaining a level of professionalism when texting the boss. Similar to email, texting by its very nature has a tendency to be less formal. And although it’s definitely acceptable to abbreviate words, it’s still important for you to think about how your message will be perceived and received.
Before you text, ask. And above all, remember that work is work and your boss is your boss. So monitor the frequency and content of your texts. And please, unless it’s mission critical, don’t text your boss hours after they’ve left for the day, or even worse, in the middle of the night.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve texted coworkers and team members I supervise, but not my boss.
How about you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Good topic. I know for a fact my boss receives text messages, but I have never texted her due to the fact that I don't want my text to perceived in a wrong way accidentally. Just because I know what I'm saying or asking doesn't mean she will. I prefer to simply call so I can make sure we are communicating clearly.
@Brian- have you had a chance to ask your boss her preferred method of communication?
Generally, as long as you 1) know your boss doesn't mind being texted, 2) maintain your professionalism and 3) don't send unnecessary messages well outside of normal work hours, you should be okay to text the boss.
Shawn,
Yes. She is fine with getting texts. I would always maintain my professionalism around my boss. I just don't want to put myself in a position to be misunderstood. I know the chances are slim, but you never know when something could be taken the wrong way by accident. It's happened on an e-mail once before, therefore it can happen on a text.
I know I might be a little over cautious, but I just don't want to take the chance.
@Brian- there is definitely nothing wrong with being cautious. To your point, it only takes one slip up or false assumption and it could take months for you to recover (if you're able to recover at all).
Maybe it's the HR person in me, but I don't believe in text messaging the boss. Most everyone in my company has a blackberry, including my boss and I. If I can't reach her via telephone or in person, then I send her an email. I think you can lose a sense of professionalism with text messaging.
I vented about this in my blog a few months ago. With the many methods of communication available to us now, I think we are actually losing the ability to effectively communicate with each other.
My husband and I had a young woman working for us as a Nanny and whenever she was running late or was sick, she texted me. Maybe I'm old school, but when it comes to certain situations such as running late, being sick, or not being able to deliver something as promised, if you can't do it in person, then reach out and touch someone--via the telephone.
@Sara-Thanks for the comment. Do you distinguish between texting and emails sent from a blackberry? I respond to a lot of emails from my phone but I often keep the content to a minimum.
Shawn,
At my company, emails sent from blackberry and our regular inbox are one in the same. To send a text would require extra steps such as looking up someone's mobile number which is linked to their blackberry and then opting to SMS. The point of the blackberry in our company is to ensure that we are connected and accessible for emergencies or in the event that something needs immediate attention while we are away from our desks.
In some cases I think sending a text is a cop out. We're more likely to say things via text that we otherwise wouldn't say in person or even email. In the case of our former Nanny, or anyone for that matter, I think if you must text out sick, you should follow up with a phone call. (Yeah, I'm still bitter)
@Sara-one last question...when your Nanny would "text in" sick, would she include a fake cough to add to the believability? I know I would.
Shawn,
Is there an emoticon for fake coughing? :)
My husband receives an incessant amount of texts from a subordinate. He says she takes 4-5 texts to say she'll be late or can't work. She says "hey hun" and uses other unprofessional phrases plus at all hours and he responds at all hours stating if it's about the next day they have to communicate. Supposedly, she won't turn her ringer on..she'll only text.
His work does not provide a cell phone, but we have a 200 text plan on our personal. He is typically between 3-400....because of her. I have a BBA in HR and he is a manager who's gone through training on practices, sexual harassment, etc. I've told him they've crossed the line and both in marital terms & professional this is unacceptable, but he insists it's okay.
I feel, yes, it must be kept precise & professional. Texting is so personal that it's easier to slip into shady grounds. What else is there to do about when it's your own husband who's inappropriate?
@Nicole-that sounds like a concern on a number of fronts, the least of which is the fact that you're incurring additional expense from her texts putting you over your plan.
I don't know about other managers, but I know I wouldn't tolerate what sounds like a complete lack of professionalism from someone on my team.
Good luck. It sounds like this is a boundaries issue at home and at work.
@nicole--The "hey hun" messages your husband is getting from a subordinate seems to be crossing the texting threshhold into 'sexting'. He needs to tell her to lay off the boss fantasy.
There's nothing inherent about the title "boss" that makes it okay to text them or not. It really depends on your relationship with them, company culture, and the content of your text. Your best bet is to exercise situational judgment rather than creating blanket rules.
@Missa-I'm right there with you. I would never say "hey hun" to my boss. Sorry boss ;-)
@Brain-you're right about exercising blanket rules predicated solely based on a title, but I'm pretty sure texting your boss at odd hours of the night is never a good idea unless it's completely necessitated by a business issue.
@Shawn,
I'd more or less agree with you there. On the other hand I probably wouldn't text my friends at odd hours of the night unless I wanted to annoy them either. =)
There are always exceptions to the rule though. My former boss was a coworker before she officially became a boss and our age difference was only about a year and a half, so it was a much more friendly relationship. There were occasional midnight texts from both directions when there was interesting news afoot.
@Brian-I think we're both on the same page, but it sounds like Nicole's situation is much different.
I think it does depend on many circumstances, I do agree.
The subordinate is at least 15yrs younger and he hired her. It's an industry where it's typically younger people (mostly women) who apply and/or stay. He also thinks it's appropriate to fraternize outside of work over beers, outside of official office socializing events. He's not a strict boss, I know that. Frankly, I understand it being late night and something happens where you can't come in so you text your boss "hey, I got in a car accident and won't be in in the morning. I'll follow up in the morning with you as to my status". That is appropriate. But texts while she's in school that just state she's in class and not paying attention...not good. It just shows lack of respect for your boss's position. But then, I've been in office settings for 15years.
Whether or not you should text your boss really depends on the culture your organization and the personality of your boss. I think in industries like communications, staying in contact is vital because problems and new info can arise very quickly.
I have texted bosses before and appreciate the accessibility because texting is a non-invasive way to communicate. But I will say that texting should be kept brief and only on the subject of work.
The standard rules of grammar and punctuation should also be followed. Always remember in any communication with colleagues and supervisors that other eyes may see what you have written, emailed, text-messaged or said verbally. This is especially true for those that work in government positions. Don't say anything you wouldn't mind being on the news!
I almost feel like he'd have to have a new company policy and/or disciplinary action in order to buckle down the communication. My education in the matter is disregarded as with my work experience. He just thinks it's another area I can control.
I'm speaking from both a business perspective and from the viewpoint of someone who can see the behavior (you never know what customers & fellow employees witness).
How much will a boss be respected if he/she allows informal behaviors? Will it increase to allowing others?
@Shenneth-I totally agree. Texts to the boss should always maintain a certain level of professionalism and should hinge mainly on business. Now, that's not to say you can't send a text every now and again about the Bears acquiring Jay Cutler or something non-work related.
@Nicole-As a boss, I can't see how allowing what seem to be inappropriate behaviors go on wouldn't make it difficult to keep others from doing the same thing. I've even found that with humor in the workplace. I like to joke around internally but sometimes I think that can seem like a mixed signal to people on my team. In my mind, I draw a clear line between joking around with coworkers and joking around in front of my boss. But to them, that line might not be as obvious. And if I have to coach someone on maintaining a level of professionalism in front of the boss, it could be seen as "do as I say, not as I do."
I supervise five people and our written policy says they have to call me when they're running late (it's important to our operations that I know), I encourage them to text first - I just don't like talking on the phone early in the morning. Conversely, I send my supervisor email or call her - I know she knows how to text but I usually have more than 160 characters to communicate with her...
@CaroLyn-a call is definitely the way to go when you're running late. That way, if it goes straight to voicemail, you can leave a message and try to reach someone else on your team to let them know you're running late. With texts, there's always a chance your boss doesn't have his or her phone on or with them.
When calling off sick, however, I always find it helpful to send an email that includes multiple people on my team (we're a small team so it's anywhere from 5-10 people). As with the text, that way we're not relying on the message getting caught up in one person's inbox.
I gave my letter of resignation to my boss and in return received a text saying they got my letter. I did not find this professional.
Very nice. On one hand, it's nice that they acknowledged that they received it. On the other, the text definitely sends the wrong message. "We hate to see you go...ep, got to run, I'm getting on an elevator."
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