The Importance of Speedy and Effective Communication in Your Small Business and Why It Matters

What goes around, comes around, and in the business world, effective and timely communication is key to productivity, harmony, and reputation.

We still use snail mail, fax machines, the telephone, and emails are here to stay. Instant messaging is another new method of communication that has revolutionized the world of work, just as the internet did last century. As an illustration of this, it’s worth noting that the instant messaging app with Spike; will revitalize your business.

All forms of business communication are worthwhile and have their place. Since the pandemic, virtual meetings often take the place of in-person gatherings, and we are accustomed to seeing our peers and managers on a screen rather than at a desk nearby.

Why is Speedy and Succinct Communication so Important?

Team building

We all live, breathe, think, and feel at work (perhaps in a different way than when we are with our loved ones in our free time); our workplace is vital and lively—fast, direct communication is key to people bonding in teams.

The “water cooler” conversations still take place on digital messaging; it is, of course, different as tone of voice and body language cues are missing, but fast and succinct communication within teams, even on personal matters, puts us all on the same page, humans working together.

Team members build trust when replies are swift and informative. This encourages less confident staff to reach out and form work relationships and is a democratic business practice, as all levels of staff in the company can join in on chat groups to solve problems and brainstorm.

Efficiency

If you send a message or email to a customer or colleague and start a dialogue in order to further a transaction or project, it is good to be prompt and clear in your message. Fast, informative replies to queries will establish credibility with both internal and external stakeholders.

Swift communication from managers/leaders/owners to team members and back again will lead to the streamlining of issues and faster processing in the business. Delays in communication cause drops in trust and morale as well as frustration and, ultimately, inefficiencies.

Saves Time and Money

Fast and effective communication in your business saves time and money. From video conferencing costs compared to airfares and accommodation to instant messaging saving you that trip to another building to collect a file, communication that is focused and effective saves losses in productive time as the file is attached to an email or an instant message.

The manager that answers the team member´s query quickly will have a more efficient team, leading to saving of costs and ultimately fewer problems with expensive staff turnover as the team feels supported and respected. They also feel they belong.

Training people for life

If you aim for a successful career, effective communication skills are critical. Good workplace communication will help improve management, teamwork, and collaboration, mitigate conflicts by reducing the chances of any misunderstandings, and can provide emotional support for every team member.

If your business offers an implicit and explicit platform for swift and effective communication, team members will feel like they are also being educated in business and life skills by working with you.

And if you are a manager/leader/owner, your swift and effective communication will help develop a robust team and goodwill all around. That leads to a productive bottom line.

Effective and prompt communication leads to good decision-making, engaged team members, and successful outcomes. However, poor and delayed communication within your team may cause:

  • Imbalanced or duplicate work 
  • Scope creep (client adds duties or changes deadlines)
  • Disappointing project results
  • Unsatisfied clients
  • Poor customer feedback
  • High team member turnover
  • High-stress environment
  • Low team member engagement

Three More Benefits of Speedy and Effective Business Communication

Positive Feeling

Customers, as well as staff, in fast and focused communication, will feel positive about their association with your business.

Improve staff and customer loyalty

Hassle-free transactions, both internally and externally, lead to loyalty in a team and for a business.

Transparency

Prompt and clear communication gives every member of the team the quality of transparency. This is an important business quality and one that inspires trust from customers.

Messaging in Your Business

Emails are here to stay, but so many staff have email overload on a daily basis—hence instant messaging (IM), which has its advantages in getting critical business intelligence in rapid circulation.

BCC and CC addresses in emails can direct information where it needs to go, and chat groups in IM can include all the right people too.

And Finally…

Relationships in the business world are of paramount significance. Some say, “People buy from a person,” —it is not merely the merits of a product or service that clinches a deal, and communication at all stages and levels of your business will be crucial to success and performance.

Signs of growth or signs of slowdown will be spotted quickly when your business is operating in an environment of speedy and effective communication. You can adapt your strategies based on the timely and concise business intelligence you gather from your team and your clients.