​How does technology influence how we communicate at work?

​How does technology influence how we communicate at work?

From fax machines, to emails, to Microsoft teams- there have been considerable shifts in how communication happens in the workplace over the past few decades.

As technology develops, so do the social rules around it. We saw this a few weeks ago with Elon Musk’s handling of firing Twitter employee Halli Thorleifsson.

When Thorleifsson, along with 200 of his peers, was locked out of his work computer, and with no clear answer from Twitter’s HR team, Thorleifsson took to the social networking website to ask Musk himself to answer for his employment.

The following interaction between Thorleifsson and Musk turned into a very public exit interview, wherein Musk challenged the work Thorleifsson actually did at the company. Even adding “The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did not actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.”

This tweet, amongst others showed future employers exactly what Musk thought of Thorleifsson’s work ethic. This tweet which has 74 Million views on Twitter will serve as a marker in Thorleifsson’s career.

The next day Musk tweets: “I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful. He is considering remaining at Twitter.” This tweet had 7.2 million views. Almost 67 million less than the his previous Tweet.

In the workforce, there is an expectation that HR matters are handled with a level of professionalism. That protects the privacy of all involved. Both Thorleifsson and Musk’s reputations will be impacted by these interactions, and moving ahead future employers or candidates will be influenced by this public interaction.

As social media becomes more prevalent in our day to day lives, it is essential to consider the impact that it can have on our careers.

Most people will not engage with their CEO like this on such a public stage. But we will likely need to navigate ourselves through a HR process in the workforce. How you conduct yourself will be reflected upon by others, who may only perceive their full side of the story.

If you are looking to change roles, engaging with a recruiter not only helps you find that new opportunity, but leave your last one. Recruiters can offer support on how to navigate an exit interview without burning bridges, and that will help you maintain longstanding relationships with previous employers.