With any business, communication is a key pillar of success. If communication is good, business will be good, but if communication is falling apart it can create huge problems in your business. Technology has made us all super connected so it’s convenient to communicate with each other, but it’s not easy to do it correctly. We have texts, emails, video chat, social media, phone, and in-person channels to communicate through.
Effective communication will differ depending on the participants. These three communication types are the most important to your business.
Yourself
The first communication type is one that a lot of professionals overlook, yourself. The communication you have with yourself is critical to your professional and business success. Be aware of how you talk to yourself and if you are being honest. A great way to check in with yourself is to set some time aside at the end of year or end of each month to reflect. See if your actions are aligning with your goals and if they’re not, figure out what you can adjust.
Your Employees
Broadly speaking, the more you can be open in your communication with employees the better. Including employees early on in plans or strategy helps everyone to understand the big picture. In addition to making everything clear, communicating openly with employees gives them a stronger sense of ownership in their work. When employees can see clearly how their contributions fit into the progress of the company, it improves employee morale and overall performance.
Your Customers
When communicating with customers, the most important thing is to provide information on how your products or services will make their lives better. The majority of communication with clients should be underscoring the value of your business. The more authentic you can be in your communication, the better.
Communication with clients should be two-way. The best companies are continually collecting feedback from customers to improve their company. Customers are a treasure trove of constructive criticism that will propel your business forward.
In all of the above styles of communication, it’s important to be clear and authentic. Any effort to be misleading will quickly be exposed by the audience you are communicating with. Be polished, but be authentic.