Communication can often make or break a business. As entrepreneur Jason Kulpa explains, how effectively members of a company communicate with each other goes a long way in determining how effective, efficient and productive the business is.
Today, a lot of that communication happens remotely due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued advancement of technological tools. Still, it’s crucial never to underestimate the power of everyday conversation.
When you become aware of your strengths and weaknesses in conversation, you can improve your communication skills in a significant way. Here are some of the essential principles of business conversation and communication that can significantly impact results.
Listening
Communication is a two-way street. It takes one person to talk and the other to listen. Most people are good at talking, but many aren’t very good at listening.
In this sense, listening isn’t just sitting quietly while others talk. Instead, it’s paying attention and taking an interest in what they’re saying. To communicate effectively in business, you need to hear what people are saying so that you can understand.
Jargon
For conversation and communication to be effective, all participants have to know exactly what is being discussed. An easy way to cause confusion is to include too much business jargon.
Many business leaders have adopted these words or phrases as an attempt to categorize what they’re saying — when no categorization is actually needed. Phrases such as “circle back,” “pivot,” “think outside the box,” and “synergy” are used as crutches in communication.
Instead of explaining something, they cause confusion in communication and conversation. While some industry-specific jargon can be extremely useful and effective, avoid using too much general business jargon in conversation.
Tools
Today, most companies have adopted technological tools to help advance their business conversations and communications. Email used to be the only form of digital communication, but that has evolved to chat messaging programs, project management software, and video conferencing.
Every business should adopt new tools to help improve communication across all company levels, especially with so many employees working from different locations. Each business must analyze which tools would be suitable for them.
Project management software can be a great way to simplify complex projects and keep everyone on task, but it can also disrupt workflow or create issues if too many people are involved. Similarly, chat messaging programs are a great way to connect multiple people in one place. Still, they can also be ineffective if you don’t set them up correctly with targeted channels.
In other words, it’s as essential to pick the right communication tools — and customize them properly — as it is to adopt these tools in the first place.
Openness
One of the keys to effective business conversation and communication, as Jason Kulpa explains, is the willingness for all parties to be open. Those talking have to be open to sharing what’s on their mind, and those who are listening have to be open to listening and sympathizing with what is being said.
For this to happen, businesses need to make employees feel safe and comfortable sharing, no matter how sensitive the topic is. Employees should be welcomed and invited to share feedback on any issue that’s on their minds related to the business and productivity.
When you create this trusting and safe environment, you will be encouraging open conversation and communication, which is essential to business success.
About Jason Kulpa
Jason Kulpa is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of UE.co, San Diego’s Fastest Growing Business multi-year award winner, and a Certified Great Place to Work multi-year winner. Mr. Kulpa is a San Diego two-time winner of the Most Admired CEO Award of the San Diego Business Journal and also a semi-finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur award. Under Mr. Kulpa’s leadership, in 2018, his teams volunteered at over 24 events and worked side-by-side to improve the San Diego community. They hosted a gala dinner benefiting individuals with autism, cheered on Special Olympic athletes as they broke their records on the track, and brought school supplies and cold-weather gear to students impacted by homelessness. Jason’s mission is to bring awareness, support, and inclusion for special needs causes.