Kyocera Newsletter
Message of the week 04 - 08 August 2025
Tech etiquette is the new business etiquette
Hybrid work has brought us flexibility, but it has also blurred the lines between personal and professional. Emails are shorter, video calls are more frequent and notifications come at all hours. In this environment, we often focus on the tools that empower us, but forget that it’s how we use them that truly shapes our relationships. In digital-first interactions, etiquette isn’t old-fashioned; it’s essential for preserving clarity, credibility, and trust.
Research confirms this too. A study published in Wired shows a rise in rudeness in virtual work, where courteous tones have evaporated or curt Slack updates have become more common. According to the study, these behaviours can reduce creative performance by nearly 40 % and problem-solving by 30 %, and it’s a stark reminder that digital etiquette isn’t optional, it’s fundamental to partnership, collaboration and mental wellbeing.
We spend so much time focusing on having the right tech that enables our work, but not enough on the tone and behaviours that shape our day-to-day experiences with one another. Politeness, clarity, and consideration are still essential, whether they arrive in an inbox, on a Teams call, or through a WhatsApp message.
At KDZA, where professionalism and care sit at the heart of our culture, we believe in what Dr Kazuo Inamori said in the Kyocera Philosophy: "Always be kind and sincere. Courtesy and humility are the foundations of good human relations."
Ettiquette is how we protect relationships, support clear communication, and build trust both within our teams and with our partners and customers.
This means:
- Thinking before hitting ‘send’
- Making sure we respond with answering the 5Ws & H (who, what, where, when, why & how)
- Muting when we’re not speaking in meetings
- Starting messages with a warm tone
- Responding when people take the time to engage
- Respecting working hours, while still being collaborative and using asyncronous communication tools.
These are small gestures, but they carry weight. Especially in a digital-first world where tone can so easily be misread and intent can be lost in translation.
In a time where we rely heavily on tech to connect us, our human approach matters more than ever and the invitation is to always interact with awareness and kindness, especially when our messages are delivered via screens.
Dr Kazuo Inamori, also said “A harmonious relationship is the foundation of any group’s success.” Whether that harmony plays out across desks or digital threads, it’s worth nurturing.