1. The ability to communicate effectively in the workplace is essential
Communication Protocols and Practices Etiquette & Importance of electronic communication in 21st Century China Mary Jane Denton and Tim Koster
The ability to communicate effectively in the workplace is essential

2. The Importance of Electronic Communication in China
Tim Koster

3. In China for our work, we sometimes need to send communications or files between:
Our students
Our classes
Our team-members
Our local staff colleagues
The several offices within our college
The four partner sites around China
Between Australia and China
Between all the countries where we all come from
Electronic Communication is integral in achieving this communication effectively and efficiently, but as we all know, there are several challenges to using it in China.

4. Challenges We’ve Faced
Our Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail accounts sometimes don’t work, or are very slow to work.
Internet in China is sometimes unreliable – therefore we can’t always rely on !
Furthermore:
By the early 2010s, we realised that our Chinese students don’t really use !
In around 2013 we switched to QQ and QQ to communicate messages effectively to students.
But by 2015, WeChat was and continues to dominate the electronic communication field in China. Our students don’t really use QQ anymore!

5. WeChat: Advantages and Disadvantages
Communication is instant and reliable.
WeChat supports voice, video, and sending files quickly in China (compared to other similar services).
All our students and local colleagues use it!
However:
Communication is instant and sometimes intrusive.
We need to be careful with what we post through the integrated social media functions of WeChat.
To consider:
Compared to other platforms (such as , WeChat is very informal; be careful of tone and language used.

6. Email will always remain the standard, because:
Our communication occurs across several countries every single day, with all of us as participants.
s can and sometimes need to be archived – IMs through WeChat don’t last forever.
Integrated functionality, such as calendars and scheduling make it an essential work-tool.
However, consider some of the challenges listed earlier, and always consider how to efficiently communicate in cases where cannot be easily used.

7. Email Etiquette & Importance of electronic communication in 21st Century China
Mary Jane Denton

8. What do you think is wrong with this subject line?

9. What do you think is wrong with this email?
VERY
What do you think is wrong with this ?

10. Email basics Know your audience When to use email
Tips for effective s
The subject line
Language focus
Using tone effectively

11. Check list for writing
Clear, concise and polite language is important for successful communication in the workplace.
Short and simple sentences
Avoiding unnecessary repetition
Strong verbs
Using bullet points

12. What do your emails say about you?
Appropriateness is the key to knowing your audience, appropriateness of language, content and tone.

13. When to use
Even though is quick and easy to use, sometimes another form of communication might be more suitable.
is not an instant messenger – even though we fire off s, we must still compose them to reduce the number of s.
Think about your message and the purpose it is meant to achieve.
Maybe a phone call, text or WeChat would be better.

14. The right tone in emails
Your communication is can be passed on to anyone within or external to the organization.
Everyone responds to a polite positive tone. Criticism, rudeness or negativity will lead to reader resistance.
Show politeness and be positive whenever possible.

15. Tips to think about for effective emails
Think before you write and plan your message.
Keep your language clear and concise.
If your message is long, give a summary at the start.
You are accountable for what you write. Always write your message as if your boss were going to read it.

16. More tips to think about
Do not send angry messages.
Don't type your message in capitals
Why?

17. Even more things to think about
When replying keeping the subject line the same
To: , CC: , and BCC: - when to use each.
When to use Reply, or Reply All?
Acknowledging the receipt of s
e.g.: got it

18. In conclusion Acknowledging the receipt of an email promptly
Keeping s with the same subject
Replying within 24 hours where possible
Think before you write
Plan your message
What do your s and your etiquette say about you?

19. The end Thank you
me for a folder with some examples of s and further information