Effective Business Communication: Emoticons in Modern Workplace Email

This essay explores the use of emoticons in business communication, particularly within lean media such as email and instant messaging. It examines the appropriateness of emoticons in various professional contexts, including general workplace communication and job application emails. The analysis emphasizes that while emoticons can effectively convey emotional nuances in lean media, their use should be context-dependent and carefully considered to avoid unprofessionalism. The essay argues that while emoticons can lighten the mood and enhance communication, their utility in formal settings like job applications is questionable and potentially detrimental. The study concludes that the evolving nature of workplace communication may allow for judicious use of emoticons, but awareness of audience perception is crucial.

Running head: EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Part C
1. Lean media transfers least amount of information and someone
communicating through lean media cannot understand bodily gesture and facial expression,
which is possible in case of face-to-face communication. In asynchronous text or lean media
communication, this includes instant text message or e-mails, words sometimes become
limited to express the emotional nuances (Finegan, 2014). Emoticons could be used in this
situation.
In the case study situation, using emoticons was necessary if the sender does
not consider it as unprofessional, informal and childish. It has helped to tackle the situation
nicely and is communicating everyone to lighten up the mood without saying the same.
Communicating through emoticons in this situation is demanding and required. Emoticons
could convey what words cannot convey and it has its own importance in lean media
communication (Lee, 2016).
According to me, in case of professional communication, using emoticons
should rely on situation and context. There is no general rule for this usage in the professional
world. Later, the sender has replaced the emoticon; however, the meaning of the message
could be delivered excellently and comprehensively with application of the emoticons. The
problem occurs in case of professional communication using emoticons is that no one knows
how the other party would accept it (Loglia & Bower, 2016).
In my opinion, as the e-mails and instant messages are becoming the part of
the professional communication, application of emoticons could be allowable as this is the
entertaining part of the lean media communication. The nature and medium of
communication has changed and there are many researches in accommodating the possible

2EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
changes in the workplace communication (Skovholt, Gronning & Kankaanranta, 2014).
Therefore, communicating the emotional nuances in lean media, application of emoticons are
not so bad and it could be applied whenever it is required.
2. Job application e-mail message contains the important and relevant information
about the applicants (Kuney, 2013). It could be his or her educational qualification, work
experiences and training taken by him or her. This type of e-mail should complete with
thanks giving and regards and the tone of the whole message should be strictly professional.
Thus, as a manager I would be disappointed by receiving emoticons in the e-mail job
application.
Using emoticons in the job application has no utility and is not demandable in this
message. There is no requirement to use emoticons in educational qualification or work
experiences, rather it could create negative effect in the mind of the manager if emoticons are
used in thanks giving and regards section. It could convey the invitation of partiality from
part of the applicants (Loglia, 2013).
Emoticons could be used in the professional way of communication where it is
necessary and demandable (Loglia & Bower, 2016). In case of job application e-mail, there is
no necessity to use emoticons. It looks rather abnormally unusual. There is no place to use
emoticons in job application e-mails. Therefore, as a manager, I would be annoyed, disgusted
and disappointed observing this unnecessary action from the part of the applicants.

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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.