Provided by Alyssa Gelbard, Founder & President, Point Road Group
While what you say or write to others is critical, so is
how you communicate as well. Your communications habits not only influence what people think about you, but also what they think about the company for which you work as well. You’ll make better impressions on internal and external stakeholders by paying closer attention how you communicate. Improving habits will lead to better opportunities and outcomes – especially in a virtual environment.
Here are 5 communications tips to strengthen impressions:
1. Know when to pick up the phone.
Business communications are largely conducted via email, but sometimes a quick call is a more efficient and effective way to handle something – especially when discussion is needed to reach next steps or a conclusion. If you’re exchanging many rounds of email without making progress, pick up the phone (or schedule a call when mutually convenient). Using email for endless dialogue and debate is overly time consuming; driving efficient resolution by phone will be appreciated by all.
2. Respond to key LinkedIn invitations & messages quickly.
When someone invites you to connect on LinkedIn and you intend to accept the request, don’t wait days to do so. This is extra important when you receive an invitation right after a meeting. It’s timely response is also advised when receiving a direct message or request for timely information. Accept/reply when you’re still top of mind; if you wait too long, you’ll lose momentum in developing the relationship. A delayed response can also unintentionally signal that you’re not interested in engaging (further) with a contact.
3. Don’t ignore meeting invites.
When you receive a meeting invitation (or email with possible dates for an upcoming meeting), don’t leave the sender hanging. Check your calendar ASAP (or delegate as needed) and decide. Putting off a response frustrates others because it leaves tentative blocks of time tied up in their schedules. If you’re unsure about your availability due to pending commitments or a more fluid remote work schedule, provide the meeting organizer with a timeframe by which you’ll confirm. Responding conveys interest and respect of their time.
4. Avoid delays delivering on promises.
If you offer something to someone, follow through without delay. Whatever you promised (an introduction, resource, vendor recommendation etc.) may be critical and timely to the recipient. Keeping someone waiting can come across as though they’re not that important to you. Even worse, if you ignore what you promised and fail to deliver on a promise, you’ll not only disappoint but may be viewed as “all talk.”
5. Be extra timely during a job or board search.
If you’re pursuing a new job or a board seat, swift responses are critical at
every stage of the search process. Unfortunately, candidates aren’t afforded the same latitude in communication delays as recruiters or hiring managers. You risk losing out to others if you wait too long to reply about opportunities. Even if you’re not interested in a specific job lead, respond to recruiters, hiring managers and contacts ASAP when they reach out. Timely responses convey professionalism and gratitude, and these positive impressions can encourage future sharing of opportunities.
Links
https://www.netmanners.com/166/email-response-time/
https://pointroadgroup.com/communications-habits/
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/five-ways-to-improve-communication-in-virtual-teams/