Communication Fuels Successful Businesses

We all know that communication is critical to our success, yet it seems that the majority of our society, in business or otherwise, has developed critically impaired communication skills. We all seem to be busier, yet busy is still often an excuse. When something as important to us, being busy doesn't get in the way.
Text messaging is a great convenience; so is email, yet both have played a major role in decreasing our ability to communicate beyond snippets and incomplete information.

Our company is growing rapidly, with business increasingly being found through referrals, Internet searches and advertising. The majority of those that respond to us seek advice to establish a price for work that isn't defined, such as a business plan with no details on the business, market, etc. Of course, if it was in the best interest of our client to fit them all into the same template plan, so a restaurant looks just like a new breakthrough technology, it would be a lot easier to respond to their question: “what does a plan cost?”

We off a free phone consult because we want to help entrepreneurs and business owners, but also because we need information to know how we can help, whether it’s developing a business plan to raise capital or an introduction to strategic partners to drive sales or raise capital. After an initial consultation and often many more conversations, many prospective clients decide they would like to move forward and ask for a proposal. While I'll always believe in sincerity in communications, at least 80% of those that ask for and receive the proposal it takes time and costs for my assistant/I to prepare don't proceed.

Why do they ask for the proposal then I wonder? Certainly things change day to day balancing of business and family, let alone financial responsibilities. Those types of changes are always understood , even when they choose another consulting firm or a lone wolf consultant. What is not understood is the lack of common courtesy in communication that has evolved over time. Clearly our parents and grandparents understood this principle of communication, the courtesy of closure and why, in even 2-3 concise and direct sentences beginning with “No I am not interested anymore. I can't proceed as I thought I was going to because ...”

If you are still reading this, perhaps this Blog could be considered a rant of sorts. Aside from my experience in communication, the positive flip side is that the most successful clients are virtually always the best communicators. They understand the value of time and respect that. Scheduling calls for what they feel is important, namely starting a new business or growing an existing business is something they understand. They believe in mutual respect in all regards, including communication in all forms, which enhances all the relationship in growing their business and how they communicate.

So many among us have become oversensitive and have difficulty in saying “no” or offering advice if things have changed that was a basis of conversations and/or a proposal. Others, like me, hope never to stop learning and part of that is understanding people, their decisions and why they were made. If I am not going to move forward to grow my company is some respect, like launching a new web site with new partners from among the 100+ domains we own, I believe my staff or a potential website partner is entitled to know why.

Again, communication fuels success and is a common courtesy we all deserve.