I’m using exclamation points, and you’re going to like it!

In the last year, TikTok has shed some light on many of the engagement struggles we’re feeling in today’s workplace. And by “we” I mean millennials, Gen Z, and those that see themselves fitting somewhere in the middle of the straight leg vs. skinny jean debacle.

Global COVID-19 pandemic aside, the millennial generation is stuck between fighting the good fight to transform the corporate environment while also keeping our heads down, working hard, and praying that we’ll score a promotion, raise, or even just a “hey, good job!” every now and then.

While I know TikTok feeds are hyper-tailored to the videos you’ve liked, and the comments you’ve left, it’s hard to ignore the sheer number of posts I’ve come across addressing the not-so-age-old question of: “to use an exclamation point, or not use an exclamation point?” Check out exhibit A here. This video from the verified account went viral recently. It depicts a young female employee editing a work email to remove filler words like “just” and a handful of exclamation points. When she closes her laptop after confidently sending the email, you see her lifting up a cup of coffee while shaking in fear over what she just did.

321,000. That’s how many likes, or nods of agreement, that video received from #CorporateTikTok viewers across the globe! And there are hundreds of more videos and recreations just like it all across the app.

Last month, Cosmopolitan UK even addressed this ‘issue’ in an article, claiming that women should communicate more like their male colleagues, with specific instructions to tone down the exclamation points to appear more assertive and professional (trust me, I have other opinions on this one).

It doesn’t stop at punctuation, though. There’s an array of viral videos addressing the little anxieties that many employees, not just millennials and women, feel every day (check out @Rod and @CorporateNatalie’s videos if you want to chuckle). Anxieties like your boss replying “K” to a message and automatically assuming you’re about to be fired. Or the panic that sets in when your manager sets up a meeting at 4 p.m. on Friday. Or jokes about the tone of a message that started with “per my last email…”

While the overuse of exclamation points might feel like a juvenile example, I think it’s actually indicative of a more significant issue that workers are dealing with in professional settings right now:

Things don’t feel very human.

While navigating the last year from home has likely exacerbated sensitivities to how we interact digitally, I think there’s something to be said for millennials searching for an extra level of compassion in their communications. And don’t worry, I can hear the naysayers responding with “well this is business, it’s how it is,” or “we’re here to work, not make friends.”

I understand all of those things. But I’d challenge you to really contemplate why you’re fighting an environment that’s centered on compassion? When you talk in person, you speak with inflection (hopefully), you show passion (hopefully), you display warmth (also, hopefully)—but over email and Slack, we lose some of that humanity and replace it with expedience, urgency, and an attitude more focused on getting things done than attempting to enjoy our work exchanges.

According to a study about workplace happiness by Ladders, 81% of employees fake happiness at work. And of those employees who fake happiness, many of them report being unproductive for more than 15% of their day. I may be taking a leap with this one, but I think that should really bother companies and organizations! Happy employees want to produce, perform, and contribute to the best of their ability. If you’re not focused on workplace engagement and happiness, your business will see the negative effects related to productivity.

Feeling comfortable using exclamation points in emails won’t solve workplace engagement and happiness problems. I know that. Happiness comes from an array of avenues like employers offering growth and development opportunities, fairly compensating employees, allowing employees to bring their whole self to work and do their best work each day, and encouraging the development of personal relationships like finding a coffee trip or lunch buddy.

While all of these tactics are important, I think business leaders downplay the importance of day-to-day interactions. Whether it’s in person, on Zoom calls, and over messaging systems—daily exchanges between leaders and employees are the backbone of your working relationships.

“How was your weekend?”

“I hope you had a nice vacation!”

“How can I make your job easier?”

“Great job on that presentation!”

“Thanks for your hardwork!”

It doesn’t take much for leaders to show they’re interested in your happiness or for fellow employees to go out of their way to communicate compassionately. If employees feel like they need to police their punctuation for the sake of professionalism, how else are they modifying their behavior in a way that becomes detrimental to their workplace happiness, or even their mental health?

Instead, I think it’s much easier for organizations and leaders to cultivate kindness in their environments and prioritize making business feel human first and professional second.

Exclamation points and all!

Amanda