The Top 10 Communication Mistakes Business Owners Make
As a business owner, you face many challenges, especially in situating the company in the business market. Communication mistakes may occur as you build relationships with customers and suppliers. It is important to learn from your communication mistakes whether you make them in person or using a communications technology.
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Telephone Communication
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Some mistakes will occur when you're in a hurry and choose the wrong format for communicating a message. There are three big mistakes you might make, for example, when using a Smartphone. First, you might respond to an important email, but make spelling and grammar mistakes by typing it on the Smartphone. Second, you might misinterpret information, such as by reviewing reports on your phone that are too small to read and contacting a customer based on that misinterpretation. Third, you might promise a specific response to someone and then use your Smartphone to give the response instead of waiting until you are in front of a computer.
Marketing
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Business owners can also make important mistakes in branding their business. Fourth, it is possible to use advertising and marketing messages to promote an aspect of your brand, such as excellent customer service, without backing up claims with attention to other areas of the company, such as customer service training. Fifth, you might use marketing messages to convince customers that your product is better than a competitor's product. This tactic should not be used to communicate the value of the company brand unless you can back up the brand comparison with real facts, preferably by an independent source.
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Management
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Business owners often serve as managers, especially when they make important decisions in day-to-day operations. The sixth mistake is to make hasty decisions and announce them to your employees. Acting in haste can create more problems for you later. The seventh mistake involves making assumptions about a message recipient's intelligence. Before creating messages for customers, consider the level of knowledge of the audience. You don't want unexpected reactions to your messages to hurt your brand. The eighth mistake is to be caught in a lie when a customer asks you to be accountable for decisions. Honesty is always the best policy.
Personal Communications
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As a business owner, don't make the ninth mistake of letting your work life blur with your personal life. For example, don't take business communications home. The final mistake to avoid involves handling angry customers late in the business day, especially when you're tired. Choose a time early in the day to handle customer complaints and follow through on any promises you make.
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References
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