Changing Perspectives... 
on Email Etiquette and Inclusion

Confession: I spend way too much time on LinkedIn.

I’ve stayed way past the wave of ‘what getting engaged/moving house/clipping my toenails taught me about B2B sales’.

I’ve endured the AI slop.

But I was finally tipped over the edge by one line in a guide on ‘Email Etiquette for Professionals’:

“Avoid using slang, emojis, or overly informal language in professional settings.”

Slang, I understand. Whether it’s specific to generation, culture, or occupation, slang can be exclusionary. I should know – for 20+ years I used idioms from my dad’s first language, isiZulu, and no one knew when I was warning them that it was raining outside a windowless classroom. Sorry, damp university friends.

But I will not let ‘etiquette influencers’ take my emojis. And I don’t think you should, either. Because emojis are one of our most useful, universally recognisable tone indicators.

What’s a tone indicator, you ask? Grammarly says: “Tone indicators are simple symbols or letter combinations that show what sentiment a message is meant to express.”

They can help anyone who struggles interpreting the vibe of an SMS (we’ve all been on the receiving end of a ‘k’). But they’re particularly helpful to Autistic people, and folks who experience anxiety or ADHD.

If you text me, ‘Can we talk ASAP?’, I (hopefully) look reasonably chill. But I’ve already assumed I’m something I like to call ‘quadruple fired’ (fired, then immediately rehired, specifically so I can be fired again… You get the idea). For neurodivergent workers, imagination can be a strength, but also an anxiety nightmare.

Here are some tactics I’ve picked up to incorporate tone guidance into communication.

1. Use a couple of extra words to add tonal context. A meeting invite called ‘Quick Chat (good news)’ provides more reassurance and clarity than ‘Quick chat’.
2. Meeting agendas! An Outlook invite can frame an unexpected conversation beautifully – or leave the recipient spiralling. If you can’t provide open context due to confidentiality, use the private appointment functionality.
3. Chat to your direct reports about whether they like dicey news immediately or prefer time to prepare. Neurodivergent people often experience rumination, where negative possibilities psychologically overwhelm. They may prefer limited overthinking time.
4. If you feel awkward using formal tone indicators like /gen (genuine) or /srs (serious), emojis can often work. From indicating a joke, to acknowledging a message has been received or expressing appreciation, emojis are one of the simplest ways to add tone and make communications clearer.
   
   

I’m sure there are folks who respond to chat like this with a wry chuckle, or mutter about ‘coddling millennials’.

However, after a year of significant changes across the industry, most of us have earned our badge of honour for suffering through a baseline of anxious uncertainty. Is there harm in devoting a few extra seconds a day to lending each other a little grace?

After all, sometimes even a direct manager or client deserves a little  as a treat.