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Say No To "Text Talk"

Ifetayo Turner • Dec 01, 2022

In our modern-day era of an “instant” lifestyle, we like everything to be quicker, faster, and rapidly available to us. We like our food fast, our delivery overnight, and all of our information and research available with the touch of a button. This mentality has even mixed into our everyday communication. We have reduced our words and communication to acronyms and even our alphabet and number combinations have shortened words and phrases, i.e, “Wyd?”. This shorthand is now called ‘Txt Tlk’. See what I did there…lol.


All joking aside, there are times when this shorthand should not be used, and the professional world is a primary place where it’s use is inappropriate. Work documents, including emails, faxes, and other documentation, should not include this shorthand communication. Although we live in a “right now” society, we need to remain diligent in using clear language when communicating to clients, employers, employees, and even colleagues. When using this informal, ambiguous text talk, the message being communicated tend to lose its importance, sincerity, and sense of urgency, creating a powerless ineffective statement.


The ultimate purpose of text talk is to communicate quicker and to use less effort. However, this can still be done while remaining professional: using clear, concise, and straight to the point wording can minimize the number of words needed to convey the message. Although, the omission of the extra words will still communicate the point of the message, there is risk that it may remove tone and even the human aspect of our words. An established relationship may neutralize this risk with a baseline knowledge and understanding between the sender and receiver.


The bottom line is that professional communication should remain in plain language with correct spelling, grammar and proper punctuation. Let’s stay away from “txt tlk” in the not only in the office, but in our daily lives. Now that so much of our life is virtual, it’s sometimes nice to have a little humanizing through our messages.

Mid-Year Business Update

By Greer Campbell • 04 Sep, 2024
The job market, quiet quitting, uprise of the digital age, and the decline of DEI? The professional world moves quickly, and it’s easy to get lost in the conundrum of new news. Here is your mid-year update. AI is Updating…Surprise Surprise Generative AI is updating their experience from transactional to a more personal approach. Individuals use of the internet will change, implementing 2-way conversation and solution focused models allowing users to get a more catered response. These updates will grant users a deeper understanding, and companies a more “human-like” vision of the brand. The New Future of Planning The concept of tradition has been molded, shifted, and completely torn apart in the past decade. Most of these shifts are seen as positive, yet some pose greater challenges than not. The rise of cost of living and cost of consummation has individuals adjusting their priorities. The global pandemic also threw a wrench in the ways of planning, pushing organizations to shift focus on fluidity and flexibility to ensure retention and growth. The Not So Quiet Quitting Quiet Quitting is a term that has been frequently thrown around since the pandemic. Commonly coined by social media, the act of quiet quitting refers to an employee doing the minimum requirements of their job, lacking effort, creativity, and excitement. According to a Gallup survey of workers taken in June 2022, quiet quitters make up at least 50% of the U.S. workforce. This act can be avoided by managers and organizations through regular check ins, employee surveys, and attention to creating a work-life balance. Technology in 2024: Helpful or Overwhelming? Tech advances are happening so rapidly, many feel that it’s become almost impossible to keep up. The advancement of technology is meant to make life easier, however some feel it’s doing the opposite. In addition to user error, technology is also playing a major part in mental health deterioration and wellbeing. The battle for attention, the pull of creativity, and most importantly – the brain rot. Are we letting this go too far?

Interview Questions Your Team Should Avoid

By Greer Campbell • 04 Mar, 2024
Growing your organization requires the right team. Hiring the right team requires the right approach. Vetting and getting to know potential hires is key to building an effective culture. Interviewing candidates is your first chance to understanding applicants, their skill sets, their professional goals, and more. But just as you are vetting applicants, they are vetting you. The interview process allows applicants to gain a better understanding of your organization’s goals, culture, and needs. Setting the right example and perspective on your company begins with your interviews. One wrong or controversial question, and that could break a potential beneficial business relationship. See below for examples of questions to avoid asking candidates in interviews, and why. Are you planning to start a family soon/Are you planning to expand your family soon? While this seems like an obvious conflict, many companies are still asking this to potential employers. This makes the applicant feel like that would make or break their candidacy. Mothers and fathers in business want to feel support from their employer, an unspoken sense of support. Starting a family or having a family does not dictate a candidate’s professional abilities, therefore there is no reason to ask. What are your religious, political, and sexual stances? Again, these are personal attributes that do not affect a candidate’s ability to perform professionally, therefore can be seen as inappropriate and reason for termination of consideration for candidacy. Where are you originally from? While on the surface this may seem like an innocent question, it is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 making it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of national origin. If you ask, you could be accused of discriminating against them. You can, however, ask if the candidate will be able to report to the position location required by the job opening. How old are you? It is illegal to ask someone’s age, you are only allowed to confirm the candidate is of legal age to work full time, being 18 years old. What salary did you make at your previous role? Many states have implemented a salary transparency law, enforcing job postings and descriptions must portray the salary range for the position. Even if your state does not have this law, it is safe to avoid asking a person’s salary history. Instead, share the salary range and confirm the candidate’s expectations are within the range. As the market continues to be competitive and ever changing, engaging a 3 rd party service like Diverse Talent can greatly benefit in finding your organization’s right fit based on our industry expertise.
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