Effective Communications
Can You Hear Me Now?
How to communicate effectively with your clients by Laura Reale, Pondtent
T
he answer is text — now, what is the question? That’s what I’m hearing when it comes to younger contractors these days. And pond builders who are a bit older? It’s all about email. I’ll admit it. I’m guilty of this at times as well. But there is no onestop solution for communication, unfortunately. Different messages call for different ways to communicate. Here are a few of the most popular forms of communication and why some may be better than
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others, depending on the situation.
The Telephone Nobody likes delivering bad news, whether it’s concerning a delay in a customer’s build or having to report a problem you’ve found. This is when we often turn to email or text to avoid confrontation. Before the advent of texts and emails, we had no choice! We had to become skilled at talking on the phone. It’s a whole new world now, but the telephone is still a hugely important piece of how we communicate. The one major advantage that phone
calls have over emails and texts is the ability to hear someone’s tone. When talking on the phone, it’s a two-way conversation, and usually you can tell where it is going. This is truly a game changer. Things written down can be perceived in many ways, especially if either side is emotional or upset. A phone call allows for a give-and-take conversation. Don’t hide behind emails and texts! Pick up the phone and confront the issues head on. While it might seem easier (and safer) to just send an email, in the long run, you will save time and maybe even clients by picking up the phone and facing
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