Instant messaging (IM) is great for clarifying tasks or addressing questions that are holding you back from marking something as "done." It's also useful for sending reminders and pushing critical priorities—especially for those who tend to overlook emails. However, it should never replace an email.
The golden rule is never send a task on IM (e.g. Microsoft Teams)!
Understand that IM is distracting so use it judiciously.
During the course of an IM chat with a client or manager, an action or a piece of work may be required. It's highly important that such chats are copied from the chat and pasted into an email.
For example:
"As per our IM conversation, I will XXX."
When you copy and paste a IM conversation into an email remember the following:
If you get an internal IM that should be an email, don't simply convert it into in an email as above - be a standard watchdog and let the other person know that they should send emails instead of instant messages:
"Hi {{ COLLEAGUE }}, next time an email would have been less distracting and more appropriate.
For things like this - that are clearly tasks, and require a 'done' - please send an email straight away as per ssw.com.au/rules/important-chats-should-be-in-an-email"