The out-of-office (OOO) message, once a mere administrative formality, has of late evolved into a small but significant canvas for personal expression.
I’ve seen a wide range of out of office responses this summer, from the traditional “annual leave” statement, to overshares about whereabouts, mental wellbeing or kids’ holiday schedules. There was even a brief era when everyone seemed to be “away from their desk” seeing Taylor, with promises they would reply “swiftly” upon their return.
It seems that what was once a straightforward and instructive response to manage a sender’s expectations has morphed into so much more. Whether humorous or lacklustre, the OOO message is becoming something of a personal statement, and a new work pressure I didn’t need.
For some, recent trends in this regard are a worrying sign of declining professional standards. One chief executive I met last week had plenty to say about them, none of it complimentary.
For others, the good ol’ OOO has presented a welcome shift towards greater authenticity and personal expression at work.
Whatever your view, it’s clear that the OOO is itself a microcosm of broader changes in the workplace.
Technology, global connectivity, diversity, and the rapid evolution of online platforms – embraced and mastered by the most recent entrants to the workplace – have changed the way we express ourselves, and the avenues some have found to do so.
And then there’s Covid, of course, which ushered in remote working and continues to have an influence on how we experience the workplace, our colleagues, clients and contacts – and how we communicate with them.
At Charlotte Street Partners, and in our advice to clients, personal expression has always been encouraged. Candour is one of our core values, after all.
My personal view is that self-expression in the workplace should be encouraged, but in the right way and for the right reasons. When done right - and balance is the watchword - it leads to happier, more empathetic colleagues and in turn boosts commitment, productivity and success.
The aforementioned CEO may despair but the direction of travel on OOOs is clear. According to a recent LinkedIn poll, nearly 38% of professionals believe that adding humour to autoreplies is acceptable, while another 37% favour a balanced approach that mixes professionalism with a personal touch.
Meanwhile, and I shall take note, only a quarter of professionals think out-of-office messages should be strictly professional. But before we get carried away, it’s worth noting that the shift towards personality over professionalism isn’t universally embraced.
Etiquette experts at Debrett’s caution against the new and “improved" OOO message, explicitly warning against the perils of divulging too much personal information in the workplace, reasoning that “…few messages are more irritating than smug statements about emotional priorities”.
The debate will continue on the rights and wrongs of OOO as one element of the wider office culture wars. Ultimately it boils down to good and bad communication, an integral concern for every business.
I’ll leave you with a final word of advice from Debrett’s: “…using an out of office message to brag about your yacht…is not an effective way of fostering team spirit”.
Noted, thanks. I’ll respond when I’m back on dry land.
by Sabina Kadić-Mackenzie, Senior partner