What is “Etiquette”?

When interacting with others, both privately and professionally, there’s a certain social standard for proper behavior. This is referred to as etiquette. Etiquette is basically a set of unwritten rules that guide our interactions with each other to keep them respectful, professional, and inclusive. Etiquette standards can be found in many places, including in the digital space.

Written Digital Collaboration

When collaborating online on written content like documents, slideshows, and spreadsheets there’s a certain expectation of behavior for all participants. Digital etiquette standards are essential for creating respectful and productive interactions. This means crafting messages that are clear, concise, and considerate of your partner’s perspective. For example, when giving feedback on a collaborative process, highlight both areas of strength and areas of improvement. Avoid personal attacks; negativity reduces productivity. On the other end, when you are receiving feedback from others, keep an open mind and acknowledge the input with a respectful response, even if you disagree with their statements. Remember, online communication lacks the nuance of face-to-face interactions, so practicing empathy and clarity is important for building positive digital relationships.

Visual Digital Collaboration

Just like with written collaboration, video conferencing also required a specific set of digital etiquette rules. First and foremost, active participation is key. This means you’re attentive, listening to what others are saying, and contributing your ideas or answers to questions that are posed. You can do this by responding verbally, or using the chat if there are too many people or you don’t want to interrupt the speaker. Active participation is enhanced by proper camera etiquette. Make sure your camera is on, you have good front lighting so people can see you, and you speak to the camera as if you are speaking face to face with the other people in the group. Minimize distractions by having a clean background frame or use a virtual background, and muting your mic when not actively speaking. If you’re giving a presentation through screen sharing, keep things clear and concise, the same way you would if you were presenting in person. And remember, when providing and receiving feedback it’s important to maintain an open mind and focus on being constructive rather than critical.