Thanks to text messaging, mobile web and apps, a new word has made its way into the English language over the past year: Phubbed. A combination of “phone” plus “snubbed,” to be phubbed is to be ignored by someone in your presence who is reading or typing on their phone instead of interacting with you. If you are reading this post right now instead of talking to someone who is waiting to talk to you, you are guilty of phubbing.

This week in Promotional Consultant Today, we are looking at the use of digital technology, including social media, texting and email, to communicate with coworkers. In today’s edition, nationally syndicated business columnist Dana Manciagli, author of the post 6 Rules to Follow When Texting at Work, provides tips for the proper use of text messaging between coworkers—especially when communicating during work hours.

1. Grab some context clues: For some, particularly Millennials, text messaging is a natural way to communicate. For others, it is intrusive or inappropriate. Before you text coworkers, look for clues as to whether it is okay. If they have texted you or you have seen them text other coworkers in the past, it is most likely okay for you to text them.

2. Feel it out: If you are not sure, but have a time-sensitive issue, Manciagli suggests testing the water with a quick text: “Need to chat about the project ASAP; have a few minutes to talk?” If the person responds to your test, it is probably appropriate to text in the future. If the text is returned with a phone call, it may be a clue that texting is not the best method for communication.

3. Keep it professional: Unlike texting with friends and family, don’t use text shortcuts or abbreviations and stay away from emojis. Avoid personal conversation and keep texts focused on business.

4. Only text when response time is important: Texting is most appropriate when a response is needed quickly and email normally wouldn’t generate a response fast enough. Texting is less intrusive in this situation than a phone call because the recipient can reply quickly but not necessarily as immediately as required by a phone call.

5. Limit group texting to critical things: Group texting can be a good approach if you need input from colleagues right away, but only include in group texts those who need to be included. If a boss doesn’t need to see all the discussion behind a decision, only the decision itself, keep the boss off the texts.

6. If it can wait, don’t text: If the discussion or decision can wait until you are back in the office tomorrow, don’t text.

In tomorrow’s edition of Promotional Consultant Today we will continue our series by looking at best practices for friending coworkers on Facebook.

Source: Dana Manciagli, called “a combination of Jillian Michaels and Suze Orman for careers,” has been a corporate executive for more than 30 years and has leveraged her employee hiring and management experience into that of author, blogger, keynote speaker, career coach and global career expert. She is the author of Cut the Crap, Get a Job! A New Job Search Process for a New Era.