Over the course of your career you are taught how to be professional, how to cooperate with others and how to persuade people to follow your recommendations. These skills are always useful – however, if you work in a normal large company then you will also be shielded from making the kinds of decisions that will materially affect the company.
College and university also teaches us to be circumspect.
I have yet to meet many senior managers or business owners who are shy about what they want. They are usually easy to get on with – just remember to say what you mean and mean what you say.
When you start your own company it is you taking the risks of poor performance, so you will quickly learn to say exactly what you want.
Customers pay late, suppliers deliver late, employees need to know what they are supposed to be doing, potential customers need to know what they are buying and so on.
This isn’t about being rude or arrogant, this is about communicating expectations clearly.
So my advice is to be clear, be consistent , ask lots of questions – and most of all, be direct.
Eris I agree that success is connected with being direct - but it is also about communicating clearly. As a legal advisor the legal issues I see are nearly always caused by a breakdown in communication. People often confuse talking often and directly with communicating clearly - when really what is happening is a failure to listen and respond.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have put it better myself.
ReplyDeleteBrevity, diplomacy and frankness are to be treasured.