Why that Teams message can wait

Messaging your teammates outside of work hours is corrosive for everyone.

No matter how fun or innocent the topic.

I’ve been part of great teams that got into bad habits with this.

And I’ve been guilty of sending plenty of well-intentioned messages on weekends that should have waited til Monday.

Because it’s not the content of the messages that’s the problem. It’s the expectation you set as a team that you’re always connected.

And once that expectation is set, everyone is more likely to check their phones at night and on weekends, and be sucked back into work mode when they shouldn’t (oh while I’m here I’ll just respond to this email…).

So beware that late-night Teams message about the great series you’re all watching. Or forwarding on that nice feedback you just received from the boss.

Because it can wait.

Feeling part of a special team that communicates in a special way can be incredible. In fact, it’s probably a mark of a great team.

But if you’re not strict with your boundaries, that team group chat can turn your evenings and weekends into an extension of work. And that will quickly start to wear away at the things which made your team special in the first place.

Got any questions or comments? Email me at seamus@seamus.nz