Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
May 11, 2011 By Harrison Painter
Communication. Something we all do daily, and since birth, yet so few of us are actually good at it. Why?

Most of us will agree that the foundation of any successful business is built on communication with employees, customers, vendors, and more! Even with all of the advances in technology it seems we are actually getting worse, not better, with communicating clearly and effectively.
Have you ever placed a call to customer service only to be placed on hold with the pleasant sound of smooth jazz and commercials telling you how much the company cares about you?
Just doesn’t make sense.
How about those 15 conference calls you have been on where everyone talks in circles and the only real accomplishment achieved was the scheduling of the next conference call?
Not the most profitable use of our time.
What about that networking event? The lady who just walked up to you might be the most qualified Realtor in the entire world, but she is portraying the image of a pretentious gossip queen soccer mom.
Not an effective way to break a stereotype.
Almost everything we do involves some sort of communication, and maybe it is this fact that creates complacency. So I wanted to offer up a few tips to help.
Think before you speak: I know this may seem like common sense, but trust me, we are all guilty of this at one time or another. Think about how your words will effect others, the different ways they could be interpreted, and if making your statement is moving you forward with what you are trying to accomplish.
Keep it honest and simple: Most communication breaks down through over-complication. What could usually be done in 3 easy steps gets broken down into about 71 hard steps. Keep it honest and simple, your words will start to become more influential.
Listen with Passion: Notice I used the word listen and not speak here. The better listener you are, the better conversationalist you are. That may not make sense to you right now, but try it! I’m confident you will like the results.
Answer Your Phone: Honestly, this tip alone will move you into the top 10% of all small business owners. Answer the phone in a professional and friendly manner while smiling. Voicemails tend to stack up and get lost. I would love to see a statistic of the amount of money that gets lost every year in the unanswered voicemail category!
NEVER Tell People You are TOO BUSY: It might make you look like a mover and shaker, and you are trying to create that perception of success, but this strategy cost you more business than it makes you. I am a pretty busy guy, but my company is never too busy to speak with new and existing customers.
Now get out there and communicate!!!
LOVE IT!
Harrison Painter