A quick direct message in company chat ending with a smile, a visual response to the signing of a contract with a client, or a new email with a report. Smiley faces have become a permanent fixture in everyday written language. World Emoji Day, celebrated on July 17th, is the perfect time to examine how communication style affects employee management on business trips. It's not just what you communicate, but how you do it that matters. Using emojis can help you build positive team relationships and boost motivation. Although you don't click on colorful smiley faces on our worktrips.com platform, they, combined with a simple communication style, create excellent conditions for effective and efficient team management on business trips.

A brief history of where emojis came from

Smiley faces and other icons have revolutionized the way we communicate over the past few decades. In a relatively short time, emojis have evolved from playful additions to personal text messages into a fully-fledged tool also used in professional communication, including emails and business correspondence. From the outset, their goal has been simplicity and ease of communication, values that guide every person responsible for the efficient organization of business travel.

World Emoji Day was established on July 17, 2014, by Jeremy Burge, founder of Emojipedia, the largest directory and resource for emoji knowledge. The word emoji is a Japanese combination of the words "image," "script," and "character." It means "picture character."

Although pictograms were known much earlier, the first collection of 176 icons was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita. He intended to add emotional context to the specific information conveyed in short text messages. The real boom occurred after 2010, when emojis were included in the Unicode standard and on smartphone keyboards. 

What do emojis bring to team communication?

In the modern workplace, where speed and clarity of communication are valued, emojis are an almost natural tool. They are certainly much more than just an image. On international business trips, they help convey emotions beyond language. Especially in the context of corporate travel, where efficient information flow is crucial, their role is invaluable.

Adding positive emotional context

Misunderstandings are easy to come by in written communication. A sentence written like "Please complete this report by the end of the day" sounds a bit harsh. However, the same sentence with an emoji at the end, "Please complete this report by the end of the day and a smiley face" becomes a more friendly and collegial request. Emojis add a tone and intention that text lacks.

Simplifying and accelerating communication

Business travel organization gains momentum when communication is instantaneous. Instead of writing a long email or a message on company messenger, simply shorten the text and use, for example, a thumbs-up sign. This saves significant time, which translates into real efficiency for the company.

Shortening the distance in remote communication

Emojis act as a kind of substitute for body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions, which we inevitably lose in text communication. An employee writes that they're tired after a long flight. The response, "I understand, get some rest. We'll be back tomorrow," shows the leader's human side. A friendly message is crucial for maintaining the best possible communication within a team and keeping team members engaged during business trips. This is especially important in distributed teams working remotely.

How to use emojis sensitively?

Authenticity and appropriateness to the situation are key. Of course, moderation is key. What are the universal rules for using emojis?

1. Get to know your team – see how your colleagues communicate. If they naturally use emojis, feel free to do the same.
2. Go for the classics - stick to universal symbols.
3. Don't replace text with emoji, but complement it – simple language is understandable to everyone, but remember that icons are not a substitute for content, but an addition to it, setting the tone of communication.
4. Be yourself – the authenticity of your written messages is paramount.

Simple communication + worktrips.com platform = effective business trips

What does this look like in practice? See how the right communication style, combined with an intuitive travel management tool, creates a smooth and convenient business trip organization process. Imagine this: a notification that a business trip request has been submitted via the worktrips.com platform arrives via email. You accept the request and, on the company messenger, you message the employee "Accepted with a thumbs-up emoji". The process is quick and transparent, and the employee feels appreciated.

On the other hand, when your team is away on a business trip, you know their time and attention are limited. In these situations, emojis can serve as a quick yet empathetic way to express understanding and support, even while waiting for important documents to be delivered. A "I'm waiting calmly and with emotion, thumbs up" can show that you're engaged, patient, and truly understand the challenges your team is facing. It's a small gesture, but it demonstrates a proactive approach and strengthens relationships.

Communication during business trips

Our mission is to simplify business travel. We believe that every detail counts, reducing formalities and building positive relationships between managers and employees during business trips. Employees value authenticity and a human touch above all else. That's why a simple smile can often accomplish more than a long, formal email.

Combining simple communication with our intuitive worktrips.com platform is a recipe for success. It's a way to make business trips not only efficient but also comfortable, understandable, and fully aligned with your employees' lifestyles. Want to make business trips in your company easy and effective? Talk to us and see for yourself how we simplify business travel. Give your team even more reasons to smile!