Real talk: it's no secret that employees use their phones to text on the job and that savvy businesses are implementing ways to communicate through text message (or "SMS" in technical terms) feedback.
Why not turn that inevitable use of text messaging at work into a benefit?
Well, before answering, let's introduce a few other apparent facts:
As a business leader, you are always looking for ways to improve inter-organizational communication.
According to Pew Research, 97 percent of people with smartphones use them to text each week, making it the most-used feature on any phone.
Sending surveys through email, chat, or hoping to hear from your organization's people through face-to-face conversation probably isn't improving communication. The secret might be putting these two certainties together and giving text message feedback a try.
Employees Want Text Message Feedback Channels
An article from SHRM (the Society of Human Resource Management) reported that a whopping majority 70 percent of employees prefer texting for "interoffice communication," and "80 percent of professionals" conduct much of their business-sanctioned communication through texts. In HR, text messaging has also become a standard tool for recruiting.
This is because email is saturated. Many of us today feel overwhelmed by unread emails and only prioritize responses based on urgency. Email has become action-based, while text messaging is most commonly associated with communication.
Take the Taboo Out of Texting at Work
Texting happens. We're all adults, and we know this. People want to communicate through SMS. Harnessing that desire is a more favorable solution than having employees feel like they need to hide in the bathroom to text. It's crucial, then, to consider the reasons why employees have this preference to shape policies and procedures that encourage text message feedback without anyone abusing it.
"Why" Texting Is Preferred:
Tools like VoiceSifter record and display the logs of entire conversations on our platform for visibility
Only urgent emails get a fast response
Even the technologically challenged can learn to text
Texting is often free and a universal communication tool
People feel that a phone call takes up too much time and is less efficient than SMS.
In Human Resources, it's essential to start by putting a legal text messaging process in place and to observe common courtesy like only texting during business hours. Fortunately, using a policy vetted by legal counsel is a strong best practice and mainly requires employee opt-in. When an employee wants to respond or submit feedback outside of business hours, that's great. But avoid sending your initial message during their off-time.
Boost Your Communication with Employees Through SMS
At VoiceSifter, our mission is to connect people through forthright, safe conversations because we believe -- and see again and again with our clients -- how communication strengthens employer-employee relationships in business and makes for a happier work environment.
If you're reading this, then you care about creating a better work culture. That's a savvy move, and so is using text message feedback in your business.
