Imagine this: On a Wednesday morning, you’re slumped over your laptop, drowning in emails, slacks, pings, and that one unread Teams message that keeps blinking like an alarm clock. You say “Thanks!” and then you change your mind about the emoji you used. Did the happy face seem like it was making fun of you? Did you understand my answer? And with that, you’ve entered the modern communication crucible. More on Serge Robichaud
These days, being clear is worth a lot. Digital noise makes it hard for every word to get your attention. If you talk too much, people will lose interest. If you could have summed up your 10 points in three, they will lose their patience. Every time, clear and direct communications triumph. But being short shouldn’t make you frigid either. The “human” part of communication will never go out of style. Even if you don’t agree, show some empathy in your answers. It’s not out of style; it’s what saves partnerships from falling apart.
Active listening is the best skill you can have, yet no one teaches it in business school. Knowing when to be quiet is a skill. Double-checking what someone else meant will save you time and a lot of frustration later. Say their worries back to them and watch trust grow. If you get it wrong, admit it. When things are clear, small mistakes become chances to learn instead of PR disasters.
Let’s not sugarcoat things; there are misconceptions all around us. A quick talk can quickly turn into a mess. Use simple words. Make the jargon less stiff. And every now and then, ask, “Did that make sense?” “What do you think?” You’ll stop crossed wires before they get too tangled.
There are more and more digital tools and platforms every day. It looks like each team prefers a different one. Switch between Vidcons, instant messages, and twelve different ways to share your screen. You want to know about adaptability? Not up for discussion at all. It’s like playing mental hopscotch when you go from professional emails to emoji-filled DMs and back again. Just don’t forget who you’re talking to and why.
Get out of the way, communication. Client service is next to you, holding its own steering wheel. Remember the last time you had a good experience as a customer? Was it because someone truly listened to your strange, out-of-the-blue request? Customers want to feel like they’re more than simply a name in a spreadsheet. They want to feel connected, maybe a little bit of excitement, like you can foresee what they need next before they express it out loud.
People clap for availability, but they get up and cheer for reliability. Simple things like callbacks, timely responses, and following up might change people’s minds more than big gestures. Don’t promise too much merely to get a pat on the back. Instead, let honesty be the main thing at every point of contact.
Sometimes, the little things make a big difference in how well you serve your clients. Keeping a personal detail in mind. Sending an article that you believed could help, even if it wasn’t asked for. Quickly turning around requests without lowering your quality. Making them feel like they’re more than simply another project.
And let’s add a little flexibility to the mix as well. Every client has their own song. Preferences change, priorities do backflips, and deadlines move quickly. Be curious. Ask questions that don’t have a clear answer. Ask them for their thoughts, even if the answer hurts. Improvement enjoys honesty just as much as your client does.
Good communication with clients and coworkers isn’t something you read about in books; it’s something you do. You have to rewrite as you go to make it through the marathon. Listen more closely, change your mind on the fly, and always remember how powerful a simple “thank you” can be. That tiny statement can sometimes be louder than the biggest, most confident pitch.