Effective Business Communication: Emoticons & Professionalism

This essay examines the effectiveness of using emoticons in business communication, particularly in lean media such as text messages and emails. It argues that while emoticons can enhance communication by expressing emotional nuances, their use should be context-dependent. The essay contrasts the appropriateness of emoticons in casual team communication versus formal job application emails, suggesting that emoticons may be acceptable for lightening the mood among team members but are unprofessional in job applications. The discussion references the evolving nature of workplace communication and the increasing acceptance of lean media, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and avoiding emotional bribery in certain contexts. Desklib offers similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
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1EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Part C
1. Lean media, which could communicate minimum and restricted amount of
information apart from bodily gesture and facial expression that could be possible in face-to-
face communication (Finegan, 2014). Communication in lean media includes text messages
and interaction through e-mails. In media communication, words sometimes become limited
and cannot express the emotional nuances and in this situation, emoticons could be used as
emoticons express the emotional part of the communication. The invention of the emoticons
is to communication what one cannot communication through words in lean media (Lee,
2016).
In this case study, the sender has used emoticons and after that he has considered it as
unprofessional and informal. Thus, he has replaced it with symbols. However, if the sender
would use the emoticons in his text message, the meaning of the text would be more
comprehensive and appropriate. The sender wants to lighten the mood of his team members;
however, it would be excellently appropriate if he would communicate it with emoticons.
Application of emoticons is necessary and demandable in this situation because in this
situation, words have failed to communicate what he wanted to communicate and invention
of emoticons is to fulfill this criterion.
It is seen that e-mails and instant messages has been becoming the part of the
professional communication. This inclusion has been started from the last few decades and
professionals have seen how convenient and effective communication is the lean media
communication (Skovholt, Gronning & Kankaanranta, 2014). Using emoticons in lean media
communication could be allowed and acceptable as it is the entertaining part of the
communication and it has its own necessity depending upon the context (Loglia & Bower,
2016).

2EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Therefore, in my opinion, as the workplace communication has changed a lot and
expression of emotional nuances sometimes becomes very necessary in workplace
communication, application of emoticons is not substandard.
2. According to Kuney (2013), the tone of job application e-mails should be
professional and formal. It should not carry any unnecessary things in it. It should have
relevant information of the applicants, such as his or her educational qualification, work
experiences, information about certificate course and training. Other important parts of this e-
mail are contact details of the applicant and thanks giving and regard section.
However, if I would be a manager, viewing job application e-mail where emoticons
have been used, I would be angry and disappointed. The reason is there is no necessity to
apply emoticons in the job application e-mails. There is only one possibility where one could
use emoticons in the job application e-mail, which is thanks giving and regard section.
However, using emoticons in this section would create negative impression on the
employer’s mind and the employer could take it as the emotional bribing approach from part
of the applicants (Loglia, 2013).
Using emoticons in appropriate place could be welcoming; however, unnecessary
usage of emoticons could be unprofessional, as it has no acceptability in the workplace
(Skovholt, Gronning & Kankaanranta,, 2014). There is no valid reason of application of
emoticons in the job application e-mails. Thus, as a manager I would be disgusted viewing
this unprofessional and unreasonable act.

3EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
References
Finegan, E. (2014). Language: Its structure and use. Cengage Learning.
Kuney, G. W. (2013). Legal Form, Style, and Etiquette for Email. Transactions: Tenn. J. Bus.
L., 15, 59.
Lee, J. S. (2016). Emoticons. In Ethical Ripples of Creativity and Innovation (pp. 207-213).
Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Loglia, J. (2013). How Emoticons Affect Leader-member Exchange.
Loglia, J. M., & Bower, C. A. (2016). Emoticons in Business Communication: Is the:) Worth
it?. Emotions, technology, and design, 37-54.
Skovholt, K., Gronning, A., & Kankaanranta, A. (2014). The Communicative Functions of
Emoticons in Workplace E‐Mails::‐. Journal of Computer‐Mediated
Communication, 19(4), 780-797.