Understanding what status indicators really mean across different platforms
| Status | Meaning | What it really means |
|---|---|---|
|
I'm available
|
Ready to communicate | Send away! This person is actively available and ready to engage. |
|
I'm busy
|
Currently occupied | I'm working on something, but I might not be checking every new Webex message. I'm probably still seeing them but being selective about replies. |
|
I'm in a meeting
|
In a scheduled meeting | This means busy. Do you like distractions during meetings? Exactly. Don't message them unless they messaged you first. |
|
Out of the office
|
Not at work | On vacation or traveling. Feel free to send a message but don't expect a response until they return. Even better, wait until they're back. Consider an email. |
| Status | Meaning | What it really means |
|---|---|---|
|
Active
|
Online and available | Green light means go! They're at their computer and likely to respond quickly. |
|
Away
|
Stepped away from desk | They might be grabbing coffee or in the bathroom. Give it a few minutes before expecting a reply. |
|
Do not disturb
|
Please don't interrupt | I'm in deep focus mode. Unless the building is on fire, it can probably wait. They won't get notifications. |
|
In a meeting
|
Currently in a meeting | Same as Webex - they're occupied and won't appreciate the ping unless urgent. |
| Status | Meaning | What it really means |
|---|---|---|
|
Available
|
Free to chat | Green means go! They're online and ready to collaborate. |
|
Busy
|
Currently occupied | Red means stop. They're focused on something important. Message if urgent, but don't expect an immediate response. |
|
Do not disturb
|
Please don't interrupt | Purple shield of focus. They won't get notifications and really don't want to be bothered right now. |
|
Away
|
Stepped away | Yellow means caution. They might see your message but probably won't respond immediately. |
| Status | Meaning | What it really means |
|---|---|---|
|
Available
|
Online and ready | Good to go! They're available for calls or chats. |
|
Busy
|
Currently occupied | Probably in a call or meeting. Wait for them to finish before reaching out. |
|
Away
|
Not at computer | They've stepped away but will probably be back soon. Your message will be waiting for them. |
|
Do not disturb
|
Please don't interrupt | In focus mode. They won't get notifications and really need to concentrate right now. |
| Status | Meaning | What it really means |
|---|---|---|
|
Active
|
Online and available | Green dot = go ahead! They're online and likely to see your message quickly. |
|
Away
|
Idle or stepped away | Orange dot means they haven't been active recently. They might see your message but don't expect an immediate response. |
|
Do not disturb
|
Please don't interrupt | Red "do not disturb" means they're focusing. They won't get notifications, so save non-urgent messages for later. |
|
In a meeting
|
Currently in a meeting | They're in a meeting (often pulled from Google Calendar). Same rule applies - don't interrupt unless urgent. |
|
Invisible
|
Appear offline | They're online but want to appear offline. Maybe they're trying to focus, or avoiding that one colleague who always has "quick questions." |