The human resources specialist explained to Terra how professionals should consider using the application in work relationships
WhatsApp has become the most used digital tool for Brazilians to exchange messages. According to Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Meta, the parent company of the application and other social networks such as Facebook and Instagram, Brazilian users send four times more audio messages than any other country.
Data from the German platform Statesman realize that 96% of the Brazilian population has used WhatsApp at least once, this is the most used social network in the country and also the preferred platform for at least 35% of users. It is natural, therefore, that “Zap ZapThey occupy all aspects of users’ lives, from personal contacts to work relationships.
It is therefore necessary to take into account some ‘rules of etiquette’ regarding the use of the application in professional relationships, as explained in Earth Daniele Malafronte, people management specialist and founder of the solutions company Diversidade Importa.
With 14 years in the Human Resources market, Daniele has followed the transition to the use of mobile phones in the workplace and highlights the “turnaround” with the spread of WhatsApp.
“Before we had the problem that people could not use their cell phones during working hours, it was a means of communicating with the outside world and of a personal nature. WhatsApp has generated a change in behavior. Now you are not ‘online’ it is considered a lack of attention”, he compares.
Use thoughtfully and with “common sense”
Because WhatsApp usage transcends the boundaries between personal and professional relationships, Malafronte understands that it is necessary to establish some rules for work contacts through the platform, depending on the needs and dispositions of the team.
“These methods are not universal, because they may not work for all companies or professional situations. But the basic things work, such as keeping the control of the vision active or not, establishing a time for sending and exchanging messages”, he underlines.
“It’s a matter of common sense, thinking about what makes sense for the team. If something is resolved the next day, why am I sending a message at 8 p.m.? The person could be resting, at school, at the cinema,’ and there will be a reaction that could hinder us,” he reflects.
For the expert it is necessary to evaluate whether the message to be sent via WhatsApp can be replaced by an email or another asynchronous means of communication.
“If the person who receives it is not at work, for example, I can think of it as an email, which they will actually read when they are focused on work,” he adds.
Assertive communication
Daniele Malafronte points out that, when using WhatsApp for professional functions, audio messages are able to retain more information for the recipient. This is because the written message removes more elements considered “essential” to communication.
The specialist mentions the tone of voice and the rhythm of the message, that in the text one must try to provide these elements with all the information available. For this reason, it is common for there to be gaps in the interpretation of this communication.
Another important point is the content to send and what to avoid when exchanging messages on WhatsApp.
“Talking about third parties, for example, is a ‘stone in the foot’. Since in Brazil the messages already have legal value, you are subject to printsphotos and leaks,” he warns.
You also need to be careful when using features like groups and chats with more than one person on the application. The exclusion and discrimination of a certain employee within a group are cases that the manager has already had to deal with in the companies where he works.
“You have to do some self-criticism. What I’m going to send, would I speak in public? Speaking on WhatsApp is the same as speaking in public, because I’m always subject to exposure. So I need to consider whether what I send can commit me in some way,” he concludes.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
