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Introduction
Please don't say just hello in chat.
Imagine calling someone on the phone, greeting them with a friendly "Hello!", and then immediately putting them on hold... 🤦♀️
Don't Do This
Explanation
Note that Keith could have gotten his answer minutes earlier and wouldn't have had to keep Tim waiting. In fact, Tim could have started considering the question immediately!
People who do this are usually trying to be polite by not jumping straight into their request, as they would in person or on the phone—and that's great! However, it's the 2020s, and chat is different. Typing is much slower than talking for most people. So, despite good intentions, you're actually making the other person wait while you formulate your question, leading to lost productivity (and it's kinda annoying).
Avoid These
- "Hello, are you around?"
- "hi sophie - quick question."
- "You got a sec?"
- "yt?"
- "ping"
- etc.
Just ask the question! 😫
Instead Try This
Polite Alternatives
If you feel it's too abrupt to simply say "Hi" and jump into the question, you can still start your message with as many pleasantries as you'd like:
- "hey man, what's up? also, any idea when that thing's due?"
- "Hi there! Hope you're well. I'm after the latest deck, when you get a sec :)"
- "hey, if you're not busy, could you update those NFRs?"
- etc.
It may seem trivial, but asking your question before waiting for a reply also facilitates asynchronous communication. If the other party is away and you leave before they return, they can still address your question instead of just seeing a "Hello" and wondering what they missed.
Conclusion
When done right - everyone's happy! 🎉