Texting in the business world

[Captain Hindsight]

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

[The Poojer]

I don't do business on my personal phone unless i am working outside of the office and have to call into a meeting.....if you can't reach me on my desk phone, you can reach me via email.  That being said I don't have much individual clients I work with, I am more corporate so I don't have to be at the beck and call of every customer at that exact minute

[Soda Popinski]

I've had people request my personal cell and I never give it out.  I've got a work phone and a work email and if you can't get me at those you probably shouldn't be talking to me.   I have spent Christmas eve's driving back to the office because someone gave out my cell number and an issue that really wasn't an  issue was made out to be life threatening.    Never again.   

 

When guys say "just text me that information" sorry, I can email it I can't text it.    Actually I did one time a few months ago, I texted the information, and immediately blocked the number.    He called me back on my work phone and that was that.  

[teef]

i give out my cell pretty freely, and let my peeps know they can contact me any time.  there's a pro and con to it.  i do get calls/texts at strange and inconvenient times, but mostly people are considerate.  the only time i'm annoyed by it is if i'm off call, and people don't know because they call my cell vs my office.  otherwise it's been a great business builder to let people know i'm there for them.

[boyst]

My superiors and colleagues are free to text me.  My customers, my contractors and my vendors are welcome to text me. But, if you actually work for me at the day job: GTFO my phone.  

 

I have had them call me and I send it to voice mail every time.

[Chef Jim]

I’m not allowed to text prospects or clients. Hell I’m not even allowed to text my staff. ?

Edited September 26, 2018 by Chef Jim

[TakeYouToTasker]

1 hour ago, Captain Hindsight said:

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

 

Document, document, document.

 

ONLY conduct business correspondence via email.

[DrDawkinstein]

Coworkers and vendors/partners can text me all they want, and I'll probably even reply. I've only had a very select few of customers who I allowed to text me, over the years.

 

But for the most part, I have no problem with it. Especially back when work was supplying their own cell phone and paying for the service.

 

Texting with vendors/contractors is no big deal, imo. I prefer it to a phone call since it leaves any sort of paper trail.

[BringBackFergy]

41 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

I’m not allowed to text prospects or clients. Hell I’m not even allowed to text pics of my shaft. ?

TMI

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

My boss actually prefers a text that someone' gonna be late to work or something. Makes it document-able  exactly what was said when. 

[row_33]

Certain things cannot be stated with texting, some things are fine.

 

 

[Augie]

My wife will text casual info with co-workers at all hours of the day and night. For clients, propects or referral sources,  it’s much more professional. There’s a time and a place....

[mead107]

1 hour ago, Chef Jim said:

I’m not allowed to text prospects or clients. Hell I’m not even allowed to text my staff. ?

You text your staff?

[Another Fan]

 

3 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

Is this after work hours the texts?  Pretty sure you would be entitled to be paid by your employer if your not salaried.  

 

Ocassianly Ill get texts but it’s only if someone’s out of the office

Edited September 26, 2018 by Another Fan

[Gray Beard]

I recently had some asbestos removal done at my house.  I was able to use texting for quick questions, such as verifying they will be coming even though it was pouring rain.  Most other discussions were on the phone or in person. I like texting for the small stuff. Response is quick, no small talk. Just the facts. 

 

I also text my boss and coworkers if I’m going to be out or late. Quicker and easier than phone messages. 

 

I’m a grandfather. Retiring next spring. My kids are millennials. 

Edited September 26, 2018 by Gray Beard

[plenzmd1]

Been texting customers/prospects, and they me, for at least 6-7 years. No issue with it at all. Just another form of communication

[mead107]

4 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

Been texting customers/prospects, and they me, for at least 6-7 years. No issue with it at all. Just another form of communication

Yup.  Have 2 phones don’t respond after 9:00

[plenzmd1]

6 minutes ago, mead107 said:

Yup.  Have 2 phones don’t respond after 9:00

well, i answer the hookers after 9

[BringBackFergy]

30 minutes ago, mead107 said:

Yup.  Have 2 phones don’t respond after 9:00

Thanks for the heads up. You’ll hear from us tonight at 11:30pm

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

What does this mean?

[Chef Jim]

2 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

TMI

Whew...you scared me there.  I was thinking that was the worst non-proof read post ever.  

[BringBackFergy]

2 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

Whew...you scared me there.  I was thinking that was the worst non-proof read post ever.  

I noticed you didn’t deny it. ?

[Max Fischer]

I don’t see how texting is any different than email. I find texting easier for casual conversation and email more for long form. In my business my only phone is my cell (why would you want a desk phone and multiple voice mail boxes?). Each industry is different but for mine the concept of 9-5 work hours is pretty outdated. Most don’t abuse late night and weekends but business does occasionally occur at all hours. 

[Augie]

4 hours ago, plenzmd1 said:

well, i answer the hookers after 9

 

You’re probably pissed it took them so long to get back to you! You went all Hugh Grant and had buyers remorse? 

 

Or was that Eddie Murphy?  Hmmm

[ExiledInIllinois]

Live by the sword, die by the sword.  Like Max Fischer said... What's the problem, just another way to communicate.  If I was management and job required to be contacted... I'd make answering/communicating via text mandatory... Or show where the door is.

 

Can't cherry pick.  Email is still the wild west, probably less secure.

 

Get used to being able to handle/do the job 24/7/365.  It's the way of the world.  Can't have your cake and eat it too.  We are in a constant communication world.

[Gugny]

My direct reports can text me whenever they want.  I rarely get them outside of morning texts to tell me they'll be late or out.

 

My boss will text me if he can't get a hold of me at my desk, or if he's traveling.  Rare.

 

I do work with a project manager pretty closely.  There was an IT project at the office last Saturday.  I was going to come in; he was adamant that it wouldn't be necessary.  It's an hour commute, so I was like, "if you say so."  So I didn't go it.

 

He called me about 10 !@#$ing times throughout the day.  I answered every time.  But then my son and I were waiting for a table at a local establishment (going to see our friend play guitar); we waited for about a half hour.  Dude calls me AGAIN.  At this time, it's 6:40pm.  Now I'm kind of pissed.  But I answer.  As we're talking, my name was called for a table.  I told the guy, "I was just told our table is ready; I have to go."  and I hung up.

 

Once we got seated, I quickly texted him, apologizing for the abrupt end to the call.  He apologized for calling so late.  In the end ... it's rare, so it's no big deal.

 

On my days off, however, I like to be left alone.  But my work cell = my personal cell.  For now.

[Just Jack]

My last two jobs I’ve gone the “two phones” route. That way I can leave the work phone at home on the weekends or when I’m on vacation. It takes some getting used to but after a while it’s worth it when you start to realize how little people actually need you for anything. 

[Kirby Jackson]

17 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

It’s a new day. I don’t like the texts because they are harder to document but I have some massive clients that communicate primarily through text. I think, like us, it’s the quickest and most efficient way to get an answer. It’s not going away.

[row_33]

To me the business world is of audit/legal/expert witness product for which you can't really text out comments of use to counsel or client.

 

 

[BringBackFergy]

My car phone doesn’t accept texts and I only have 20 minutes per month so I don’t worry about such things. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

22 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said:

My car phone doesn’t accept texts and I only have 20 minutes per month so I don’t worry about such things. 

Same here.

 

I am a GateKeeper.  They text or call Me... I will close the gates on them.

 

Best to run silent and deep, you get no problems from me!

[cle23]

I text, call, or email all day every day. I usually don't text a customer until they do so first,  but the amount of people I deal with daily makes texts easier because I work in the shop and hate to have to check emails all the time. It's better than calls for having a written answer.

[Fadingpain]

On 9/26/2018 at 2:40 PM, Captain Hindsight said:

I work for a utility program that does energy efficiency projects across NYS. Because of this, I handle roughly 500 projects a year with 50-60 contractors doing said projects. Most of these interactions are professional through emails and calls to my office. But a few contractors have been texting me to get updates or ask questions which I can't stand. Including one who would text me at 1030 at night.

 

I'm a millennial, which means I'm killing every single industry out there, but I'm also a professional.  Am I wrong to expect other professionals to use email or call me if they want to talk something over?

 

Latest one to text me, I just sent an email back.

 

Rant over. Get off my lawn

How this is viewed is going to vary from context to context.

 

I don't really understand what it is you actually do based on your post, but I don't think I would be using a personal cell phone in your position, and I would try to limit communication to work phone and work email.