Pros and Cons of Using Custom Emojis in Teams

Key insights

• From July onwards, organizations can upload new emoji in Teams, promoting a multicultural expressiveness among employees.
• Emoji usage is becoming more acceptable in professional settings, providing a means to create a common visual language within companies, but it should be used cautiously in formal communications.
• Implementing custom emoji can pose challenges in multinational companies due to cultural differences, with discussions on whether to associate celebrations with specific cultural icons.
• Important considerations for implementing custom emoji include controlling uploads, ensuring respectful and inclusive designs, and preparing for diverse internal feedback.
• The ability to add custom emoji in Teams offers an opportunity to enhance corporate communication but requires careful planning and ongoing management to address potential intercultural sensitivities.

Emoji Use in Microsoft Teams

In the evolving landscape of digital communication, Microsoft Teams is introducing the ability to upload custom emoji, reflecting a shift towards more expressive and culturally inclusive interactions in the workplace. This new feature aims to foster a unique visual language that can resonate across different cultural backgrounds within an organization. However, the integration of emoji in professional settings isn't completely straightforward. Historical reticence towards emoji use in formal business communications is diminishing, yet caution remains advisable, especially in diverse and multinational enterprises.

Starting July, Microsoft Teams will allow users to upload custom emoji, sparking discussions on its applicability in multinational and multicultural settings. The announcement, shared by Janneke Spiekerman, received mixed reactions, highlighting the importance of understanding diverse organizational cultures.

In past experiences, the adoption of workplace emoji has shifted from frowned upon to accepted among peers in a professional setting. While there's an opportunity for organizations to create a unique visual language, caution is advised to avoid miscommunication in formal scenarios or with unfamiliar colleagues.

Custom emoji represent more than just casual communication; they can embody corporate identity and enhance internal interactions. However, the implementation faces challenges in organizations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Different interpretations of cultural symbols and holidays, such as Christmas and Diwali, reveal the complexity of maintaining inclusivity in global settings.

In response to these complexities, suggestions include disabling the default upload option until a clear plan is established. Communication plans should address who can upload emoji and how they align with corporate standards. Key considerations involve ensuring the inclusivity and appropriateness of imagery across all organizational levels and technical platforms.

• Consider the advantages and implications of new emoji within Teams.
• Decide on access limitations for uploading to ensure appropriateness.
• Emphasize formal and respectful designs for corporate emoji.
• Ensure compatibility across devices and introduce comprehensive usage guidelines.
• Maintain a transparent approval and feedback process for new emoji to foster inclusivity and address potential objections.

In summary, while custom emoji in Teams can enhance communication and reflect an organization's culture, they require careful consideration and planning to ensure they are suitable and beneficial for all employees within diverse and complex organizations.

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