Simply put, a business cannot survive without good communication. You need to know if something has been delayed or gone wrong so that you can deal with it there and then. You need to be able to relay your needs and expectations to your employees and vendors. You also need to be able to connect with clients or customers so that you can keep them apprised of any issues and of any opportunities that you’ll both benefit from.
It’s obvious then, that clear lines of communication are vital for your business to succeed and grow.
- Connect With Your Employees
First off, let’s talk about your employees. They are the lifeblood of your business and, while it can be hard to remember sometimes, they sometimes see more than you do when it comes to the day-to-day operations of your company.
You’d be surprised at how vital keeping in touch with your employees is, but doing so can help you to improve your productivity and even retain employees. If an employee has an issue, either with another member of staff or with the process, you should know about it and, hopefully, be able to deal with it.
If your employees feel like they’re being listened to, they will be more loyal to your company and will perform better. You can communicate with your employees in a few ways. The most obvious way is to schedule face-to-face meetings. A formal meeting might be more appropriate at times, but you can learn more at a less formal lunch. If you can, chatting to each employee individually is a good habit to get into.
However, some employees might be more comfortable with an anonymous way to apprise you of any issues or to describe their job satisfaction. You can use enps software to help you to monitor general team satisfaction and identify trends. This will help you to make better-informed decisions about the future of your business and how you deal with employees.
- Connect With Vendors
Sometimes your company will take on the role of the customer. You may need raw materials or some kind of service to keep your business running, which means that you need to deal with vendors. Whatever you do, don’t neglect your vendors. If you lose them suddenly and don’t have a backup, you won’t be able to support your customers or your employees, which is terrible news for your business.
If you’ve dealt with customers, then you likely know what kind of conversations you dread as a service provider or seller. So, try to be a good customer for your vendors. Be open with them, especially when it comes to financial matters so that you both know what to expect. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount, and make sure that you’re well informed about your vendor and the usual price and quality of your desired product or service.
Feel free to ask questions, as your vendor will know far more about their specialty than you will. Then, listen to what they have to say. If they need some time to answer, give it to them and you're more likely to get accurate information.
Be realistic, but also be clear about what you should expect. Don’t expect miracles, but remember that your business needs good vendors to function properly. Don’t make the mistake of sticking with a poor vendor simply because you like them or because you’re used to them. If there’s an issue, let them know. If the issues continue, find a new vendor.
- Connect With Customers
Of course, you can have the greatest relationships with your employees and vendors imaginable, but your business won’t last long without customers. First, you need to reach potential customers and let them know that your business can fill their needs. This is where marketing comes in.
Social media marketing, as well as other digital marketing methods, are your friends here. Most people are on the internet now, which means that this is the best way to reach the most customers. Make sure that you have a solid brand personality that people will remember, so they will think of your business first.
Once you have customers, you shouldn’t neglect them. It’s much easier to keep repeat customers than to constantly win new ones, so try to keep them engaged. Use promotions to encourage repeat customers and to find new ones. Also, if there is an issue on your end, let them know and keep them informed every step of the way. Good customer service can do wonders.
