Why Communication Is Important To Your Business
As business owners, we often get caught up in the details of running a business, and with communication increasingly being done through electronic channels and social media platforms connecting us, have we lost the art of communication and the benefits of communicating effectively?
Top of your list when marketing your business is communicating your brand message – to market your brand effectively you need to know what you are trying to sell, who to and how you’ll get your product to your market.
Do you value communication in the same way when it comes to your team and your client relationships?
Encouraging your team to communicate in a professional, and respectful way will promote a positive workplace. The individuals in your business will become a team and work together as a stronger unit.
It’s unavoidable, problems do arise but how they are dealt with is what matters. We all know this, we all apply it to customer relations but do you practice what you preach when it comes to your team?
Positive communicators will listen well, and offer solutions rather than problems. They will often work their way through to a resolution through discussion instead of allowing issues to escalate and breed negativity within your business. They are an asset to your business as they can assist clients with disputes, they’ll consistently deliver positive results for you and your clients increasing satisfaction and customer loyalty.
The following are some simple ways to build relationships with your clients through communicating effectively –
- Listen – if a client tells you they’re going on holiday, ask them how it was the next time you contact them.
- Call them by the appropriate name – if they prefer a different salutation, use it in informal communications e.g. Joseph likes to be called Joe , take the time to notify your colleagues.
- Avoid negative tones and accusatory language when dealing with complaints
- Mirror the tone and speed of others in situations – people who speak slower and in a gentle manner may be put off by someone who is loud and rattles off loads of information.
Communication in all it’s forms will be the foundation from which relationships grow within your team and between your business and it’s clients, so invest some time training your team in the art of appropriate communication, adjusting the formality of their communication to the relationships they have with clients and picking up on non verbal cues to help them ensure that they get the best from business interactions.
If you’re tired of being treated like a number by your accountant, and want accountancy with a personal touch, where we communicate with you, provide you with updates, proactive advice and tips, give Avanti a call (08000) 388 799