1. Module 6: “Out of Office” – Preparing for
Remote Working
Learning Outcome 6: Understand the appropriate contexts for
different forms of digital communication
2. Now that we know about how to communicate effectively in a professional context, as
well as what each communication system can do, it is worth considering the contexts in
which each form of communication was appropriate.
• Email – most formal form of digital communication. Most appropriate when communicating with
colleagues outside of your immediate team or to an external party, or where a formal call-to-action needs
to be made.
• Direct Chat Message on Teams/Slack/Google – a little less formal and more conversational. Most
appropriate to someone else in your immediate team on a non-urgent issue (or one where they may have
other commitments at the time you send the message) where there is likely to be a lot of back-and-
forward communication.
• Video call – should be pre-agreed, and suitable for more in-depth discussions with colleagues on issues or
tasks which require an outcome to be collectively agreed
• Audio call - might be more appropriate in an urgent or impromptu situation where you need to
communicate with someone who might not be prepared in their remote working environment for a video
call.
• Digital communications about personal matters with very close colleagues should be kept to private
communication platforms! (SMS, Whatsapp, social media, etc.)
Module 06 | Task 2 | Learning Outcome 6
