According to the Wall Street Journal, employers are also sitting up
and taking notice. Word on the street from employers is that the grammatical
and writing skills of some of the employees they hire are disintegrating as we
speak. While quite savvy technically speaking, there are some younger twenty to
thirty-something employees who have a language all their own. Some employers
are concerned that they seem to lack the communication skills needed to effectively
communicate. I’m not saying texting, tweeting, and twittering should not be
done. Quite the contrary, I’m sure it is here to stay. However, in the
workplace and your professional life, it is probably prudent to err on the side
of conservatism. Make sure your language is more traditional and less informal.
In a nut shell, the caveat here is, “be careful with the written and spoken
word.”
Technology is great, but it is also the big change agent for our
language. You are probably as willing to grow and conform with technology as
much as the next person is. However, if you have a Teen or Tween (or know of
one) who is texting, tweeting, and twittering to their heart’s content, you can
see how the English language is being altered to somewhat of an unrecognizable
state. Even some teachers have noted that when children are writing their
school assignments, they are prone to using this new abbreviated language. What
will this translate into as they assimilate into the work force of the future? Perhaps
it will evolve into a whole new language. Only time will tell.
In a survey done by AARP, there were approximately 45% of 430
employers surveyed who said they were increasing company training programs to
improve grammar and other skills of their employees. This is a strong indication
that many managers are clearly concerned with the accuracy of grammar in
themselves and their employees. Those who wish to advance their careers would
be well advised to follow their example.
A friend of mine told me about a text she had received from someone in
her profession that she didn’t know well. The language of the text was in
texting lingo. To her, she said it sounded like the sender of the text was more
like a long lost-friend rather than a distant business acquaintance. My friend
was somewhat taken aback. It made her take a second look at the professionalism
of this acquaintance, or perhaps, as she said, the lack of it.
So perhaps this can be a word to the wise. Even in this day and age,
it is best to use the Queen’s English when writing letters, texting, and
emailing to your professional colleagues. With that said, you can still save
the texting, twittering, and tweeting lingo for your friends, just don’t do it
while driving, please. BTW, U 2 R going 2 have a gr8 day! TTYL but Bye, 4 now… Cya.
: )
Cathy L. Sage is President of Robert Sage Careers, LLC; an Executive
Search Firm and Job Board Publisher who specializes in the Factor-Built
Structures Industries. Cathy can be reached at 727/504-5350 or cathy@robertsagecareers.com. For more
information about the company and to visit the job board, access
http://www.robertsagecareers.com.
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