Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Failure to Communicate

Written by: Casey Dawes

Article Overview: How many business problems could be solved by simply communicating more effectively? This article explores the possibilities.

Free Download - 5 Steps to Organizing Your Business By Casey Dawes
Name: Email:

Failure to Communicate

I feel like I could write this entire article in one sentence:
When in doubt, over-communicate.

If there is one thing that could make your business run more smoothly and efficiently, it’s improved communication. (It could probably do a lot for your personal life as well!) I see it time and time again. Contracts fall through, things don’t get done or relationships get strained when people don’t communicate effectively.

For example, I just had a situation with one of my clients. I was waiting for an answer from her and she was waiting for an answer from one of my contractors. I finally picked up the phone and called. After a few minutes of conversation, I was able to get the project back on track and re-started. If I hadn’t done that, though, what would have happened?

Chances are, someone’s feelings would have been hurt. Assumptions might have been made. A general “dis-ease” would have fallen over the project. Once the project finished, we probably wouldn’t have worked together again.

In another situation I was having problems with my email. I wasn’t getting mail from many people. Again, I picked up the phone and called people from whom I was expecting a response. Sure enough, they were becoming annoyed because I hadn’t responded to their email.

We all do it. We all feel that someone must be ignoring us. Or that we have offended them in some way. Or we get nervous about picking up the phone because we think the other person will find us “pushy.”

Yet, that’s simply not true. If there is a message that you aren’t receiving, there can be many reasons that the person isn’t calling. They may not have gotten the message. A crisis may have occurred in their lives. Or they simply may have forgotten. We are human.

So, if you need an answer, pick up the phone. Emails have a far greater chance of getting lost in the air, or misinterpreted. Postal mail takes too long. Get on the phone and ask for what you want. Be persistent.

Do it today – reach out and touch someone you need to talk with.

I’ve had many conversations with colleagues and clients over the past week about communications. Many women business owners are frustrated! So if you find yourself in one of these situations, reach out and communicate!

You made a promise to do something and you find you can’t keep it. Life happens. Women get that. What we need to know is, if you can’t meet a deadline, let us know that in a timely manner and give us an idea when you can get back to it.

You have to tell someone, “No.” My husband has been looking for a job for several months now. There were at least two occasions when he went through several interviews with local companies (including a company who is on this list). Then? Nothing. No communication at all. No matter how many times he followed up. Not even an email saying, “We’re sorry, but this is not a good match for us.” To me, that’s just plain rude.

Someone has crossed a boundary. Sometimes we, as women, we let things go when we shouldn’t. Or, worse yet, we talk about the problem with everyone except the person who caused it. If someone has crossed a boundary, or you think that they have done something wrong in some way, pick up the phone or go to see them. This is one occasion where email won’t do. There’s too much room for misunderstanding.

You need to take time to think about something. I sometimes get emails or phone calls requesting a response that I need time to think about. I may not have time right then. So I contact the person and let them know approximately when I’ll get back to them.

When you catch someone doing something good. Complements are always appreciated!

So, how do you communicate?

First, if it’s an emotional conversation (like if a boundary has been crossed), calm down first. You actually may want to talk with a disinterested third party (like a coach) before having the conversation. This helps you get out all your anger/hurt and also helps you get clear on what you want to say.

Decide what it is you want from the other person. Perhaps it’s nothing at all, as in the case of letting someone know you will get back to them later. Perhaps you want a response that the other person has gotten your email, as when you are telling someone that you will be late with a deliverable. Then – and this is really important – ask for what you want!

When having the conversation, be as clear as you possibly can. Give details.

Avoid the constant use of the word, “you.” Try to avoid the blame game. There’s too much of that going around already. Instead try the phrase, “When you to X, I feel Y.”

Good luck on your courageous conversations! I invite you to let me know about your conversations or any issues about communication that you feel I haven’t addressed. I’m sure that there are many!

Related Articles
  Downsizing - Some best practices
  Do You Think You Are a Failure, When Failure Comes Knocking At Your Door?
  Small Business Owners - How To Overcome Fear Of Failure?
  Learning From Failure
  Fear Free Selling

Home > Business-Coach > Casey Dawes > Failure to Communicate
Article Tags: assumptions, contracts, dis ease, email, feelings, few minutes, personal life, postal mail, relationships, when in doubt

About the Author: Casey Dawes
RSS for Casey's articles - Visit Casey's website

Casey Dawes helps women small business owners get on the fast track to business success through consulting, education, coaching and speaking. She is passionate about helping women business owners succeed. Go to www.WomensBusinessFastTrack.com to get a free report that tells you how to get on the fast track for business success.

Click here to visit Casey's website
Dashed Line

More from Casey Dawes
Five Steps to a Business Plan
Failure to Communicate
Are Business Plans Obsolete
Ready Fire Aim May Not Work in the New Economy
Five Ways to Sell so Price Doesnt Matter


Related Forum Posts
Why A Project Fails? Why A Project Fails? - Hello Everyone As the size and complexity of ones business grows, so does their need to effectively manage projects. I have been thinking about the major reasons why a project can go wrong and my limited experience comes up with the following. 1 Leadership: A project manager with leadership skills and not just management skills. 2 Failure to (Foresee and) Plan 3 Failure to Manage: Ineffective change management control methods. Unclear decision making guidelines. 4 Talent: Finding, allocating and developing people 5 Scope: Setting an overly ambitious or amibigious project scope 6 Alignment: When projects are not prioritized in alignment with the business strategy, or project members personal objectives are not in tandem with that of the project / company 7 Lack of Candor: Communication Breakdowns I would be interested in knowing everyone's thoughts on this, especially on ways to overcome the above mentioned obstacles. Cheers!
Top performing Franchise Loans Top performing Franchise Loans - Evan, There are over 120 Franchises listed by the SBA with 0% Loan Failure from 10-1-00 to 9-30-05 these companies have at leat 10 loans disbursed. A number of the companies are Hotel/Motel Franchises so I listed them separately. Since all the ones listed have 0% loan failure I listed them descending by # of loans disbursed. Top 20 (by # loans Disbursed) 0% SBA Loan Failure (does not include hotels/motels) 1 21425--CULVER'S FROZEN CUSTARD 85 2 66910--PRIMROSE SCHOOL (DAYCARE) 76 3 14467--CARTRIDGE WORLD STORES 54 4 68021--QUIZNO'S SUBS 41 5 06560--AUNTIE ANN'S (SOFT PRETZELS) 40 6 29912--FIREHOUSE SUBS 35 7 31154--FOOT SOLUTIONS 35 8 52707--MEDICAP PHARMACY 35 9 09802--BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM 33 10 67759--COMFORT SUITES 33 11 70150--RITTER'S FROZEN CUSTARD 32 12 05650--ARBY'S 31 13 65160--PLATO'S CLOSET 31 14 67417--PUMP IT UP 30 15 69149--REMAX 30 16 71456--SALAD WORKS, INC. 30 17 76282--SONIC DRIVE-IN 27 18 84725--UNION 76 OIL 27 19 17049--CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE 26 20 78950--SUNOCO SERVICE STATION 26 Top 10 0% SBA Loan Failure Hotel/Motels 1 10275--BEST WESTERN INN 104 2 67750--COMFORT INN 98 3 38605--HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 87 4 36680--HAMPTON INNS 57 5 53165--MICROTEL 33 6 75385--SLEEP INN MOTEL 26 7 04160--AMERIHOST INN 18 8 69134--RED ROOF INN 13 9 17230--CLARION INN & SUITES 11 10 20715--COUNTRY INN 11
Can you tell me about 80/20 Sales Rule? Can you tell me about 80/20 Sales Rule? - I’ve a situation like this. I get 80% of my business from 20% of my customers, shouldn't I work harder on the 20%? Communicate at least 4 times a year? Special offers/vip sales? Unexpected free gifts? And if the other rule says I'm going to lose 20% of my customers every year (hopefully through no fault of my own), won't some of them my from my treasured 20% list? Maybe I should work to move some of the 80% to the 20% so I can afford the loss?
The 80/20 Rule The 80/20 Rule - If the rule says I should get 80% of my business from 20% of my customers, shouldn't I work harder on the 20%? Communicate at least 4 times a year? Special offers/vip sales? Unexpected free gifts? And if the other rule says I'm going to lose 20% of my customers every year (hopefully through no fault of my own), won't some of them my from my treasured 20% list? Maybe I should work to move some of the 80% to the 20% so I can afford the loss?
These maybe the coldest franchises out there: These maybe the coldest franchises out there: - Here are the worst 15 performing franchises in regards to having the highest Small Business Administration (SBA) loan failure rates. The list is dotted with sub sandwich shops, fitness centers and car shops. WORST FRANCHISE LOAN FAILURES Failure % 1 OBEE'S SOUP SALAD SUBS 55.56% 2 LADY OF AMERICA 41.94% 3 COUNTRY CLUTTER (BED & BREAKFAST) 41.18% 4 COPY CLUB 36.36% 5 ALL TUNE AND LUBE 35.71% 6 PICKERMAN'S 35.71% 7 PHILLY CONNECTION 35.59% 8 ROLY POLY ROLLED SANDWICHES 34.78% 9 COTTMAN TRANSMISSION 34.48% 10 HAIR COLOR EXPRESS 33.33% 11 LEE MYLES AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSIONS 33.33% 12 GODFATHER'S PIZZA 33.33% 13 SMOOTHIE FACTORY 33.33% 14 BLIMPIE 31.39% 15 GOLF U.S.A. (RETAIL GOLF EQUIP.) 30.77% Source: Small Business Administration, SBA Loan Performance Within Franchise Code for the Period of FY 2001 - 2005


Recommended Article for You close

  Downsizing - Some best practices

Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

How to develop the best lateral thinking skills

Tips to Take Control of Credit Card Debt

Entrepreneurs and the “Oh! No!” Trap

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.