Communication lies at the heart of every successful startup. As a founder, your ability to communicate effectively can be the difference between triumph and failure.
Whether it’s conveying your vision to investors, collaborating with your team, or engaging with customers, honing your communication skills is paramount.
Here are some actionable tips to help you become a communication champion:
1. Don’t Delay Important Conversations – It’s understandable that all meetings and conversations cannot happen on time, even when planned in advance. But, certain conversations should not be delayed or postponed like – giving feedback, communicating goals, etc., as this causes a delay in delivery at the other person’s end.
Pro Tip: Introspect on why you are delaying certain conversations, and address the issue or excuse you are creating for yourself. Fix an end time for such conversations and create a habit of addressing the elephant in the room.
Question for reflection: By not having this conversation, whom am I serving – Myself, the other person, or the company? Stop only when you get a yes for the company.
2. Listen with Intent: Communication is a two-way street, and listening is just as important as speaking. Be an attentive listener, fully present in conversations.
Pro Tip: To be a better listener, be curious and ask the person who is speaking questions related to what he/she is saying. This reinforces that you are really present and interested in the conversation.
Question for reflection: Am I hearing and seeing facts and feeling or am I assuming? Probe if you get yes for assuming.
3. Be Clear and Concise: In the fast-paced startup world, simplicity is key. Communicate your ideas clearly and succinctly, avoiding jargon and unnecessary complexity. Get straight to the point, ensuring your message is easily understood.
Pro Tip: Don’t use relative terms while communicating, like ‘This report could be better’ or ‘I expect this task done soon’. Here ‘better’ and ‘soon’ are relative terms. ‘Soon’ may mean 2 hours for you, and 2 days for the other person.
Question for reflection: Do ask the person to summarize what they have understood.
4. Foster Transparency: Transparency between employer and employee creates a foundation of trust within your startup. Encourage your team to communicate openly, share their thoughts, and express concerns. At the same time, as a founder, learn to embrace feedback.
Pro Tip: To foster transparency, what’s most important is to build a safe environment. Don’t sugarcoat your feedback, and at the same time don’t be disrespectful. By creating a safe environment for open dialogue, you’ll foster innovation and continuous improvement.
Question for reflection: When did you last seek and encourage – feedback, suggestions, and questions from team members?
5. Utilize Multiple Channels: With the advancement in technology, there are abundant communication tools at your disposal. Leverage them wisely to connect with your team, investors, and customers. Utilize email, video calls, and collaboration platforms to streamline communication and ensure that everyone stays connected, regardless of their physical location.
Pro Tip: Using multiple channels is okay, but define the norms for using each communication channel. For example, for deciding a common time for meetings, WhatsApp can be used; but for approvals and consultations, email may be the preference.
Question for reflection: How is the communication flow, is it all over the place or is it limited to certain groups and individuals? Both these cases require action.
If you’re passionate about becoming an effective communication champion, we invite you to share your personal tips and experiences in the comments below.
If you are stuck in this area, reach out to us here: https://forms.gle/rkGJVnTS13aJkC4w9
Authored by: Riti V. Srivastava
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