EMOJI: Beneficial Or Snag at Workplace

Emoji or Emoticons are the visual representations of emotions, objects, or symbols. Emoji are widely used in communication as they tend to deliver the emotion one is feeling while communicating with the other person. In 1982, Scott Fahlman is credited with using the first emoticon – :-), and emoticons are still used today in e-mail and text messages, although emoji have largely supplanted them on mobile devices and mobile apps. 

Emoji have created a sensation in communication. People tend to prefer emoji during the conversation. Emoji make the task less daunting and more entertaining. The broad range of emotions is reflected through emoji as they are meant to be fun and light-hearted. Every emoji is interpreted differently by different people.

An emoji can be both appropriate and inappropriate to use sometime. Using emoji at the workplace comes with some benefits and drawbacks. It can either build one’s reputation or can destroy one’s. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to use emojis. 

Benefits of using emoji at the workplace 

• Emoji helps the user to communicate in a better way. They can clearly express their emotions and thoughts to the receiver.
• Expressing oneself and emotions in a business appeals to the clients' human side and will thereby, attract more customers. Emoji help in building relations.
• Emoji showcase one’s honest expression of a person. Thus, this will help in building connections.
• Emoji are considered eye-catching, thereby it can draw the attention of the receiver to the main subject. It can inject spirit in your communication and also save time.

Drawbacks of using emoji at the workplace 

• Using Emoji in work emails may make fellow colleagues think that the sender is less competent, which will more likely restrict them to share information. 
• Emoji are open to interpretation, one can have assumptions according to his or her understanding, which might be the same or different to the thought process of the sender.
• Some people perceive emoji as childish and unprofessional if used at work place.
• People tend to develop a perception of the sender.

One should always use emoji in order to avoid hindrance to their reputation.