Hey everybody, Charlie Hauck back here again with another Fast Tip Friday for you.
This is a topic I could talk about for days. Look, I could share thoughts and insights on this nonstop—we could do a Fast Tip Friday, a Fast Tip Saturday, a Fast Tip Sunday if I really got on a roll. But I promise to keep it short.
So here we are today, talking about communication.
Are you sure the other person heard what you said the way you intended for them to hear it? Communication isn't just about talking to someone and walking away assuming they understood your message exactly as you meant it.
Here’s what I want to remind you: You better make sure.
You better check all the boxes—ask the right questions:
- Are we on the same page?
- Did we both hear what we needed to hear?
- Did we both agree on the next steps?
- Are we aligned on the timeline?
- Do we both know the mutually acceptable commitment we just made?
You have to be willing to ask more questions at the end of the conversation than most people typically do.
This can be the make-or-break discipline that keeps you from being overly excited—and then equally disappointed—when you think you heard, "We’re definitely doing this deal with you," but what they actually meant was, "We’re definitely thinking about doing this deal with you."
If you want to be predictably successful, start asking people to repeat back what they believe was agreed upon. Say something like:
"Hey, just to make sure we’re on the same page, can you tell me what you think we agreed to, when it’s going to happen, and who is responsible for what between now and then?"
Don’t let the fear of someone saying, “I thought we had this all figured out,” stop you from asking the most important question before you walk out the door.
Communication that isn’t equally understood and equally committed to is not effective communication.
It’s the little moments, the big questions, and the extra effort that take you from good to great—and even outrageously successful.
So tighten up your communication, eliminate your frustration, and enjoy more business celebration.
Take care, have a great Friday, a great weekend, and communicate like your life depends on it.
I’m out.
