What you need to know about me – first and foremost – is that I’m a straight shooter – in other words WYSIWYG (a.k.a What You See Is What You Get). I may not always agree with you (and hey, you may not always agree with me either) but I always respect the opinion of others while being true to myself. I feel too often in the business world, people put on a mask, showing others who they think they should be or who they feel others want them to be in order to earn their business or friendship. That’s not the case with me. Don’t get me wrong – I do want your business and a person can never have too many friends but I want you to hire me for me or choose me to be your friend because of who I am – warts and all so to speak. If I’m putting a project together for you and it’s not feasible – I’ll let you know (very respectfully of course) – enabling you to make an educated decision. I don’t want to lead you astray by being a puppet who simply nods and says yes regardless of the content. I want you to succeed. Your success is my success too. I can guide you based on my experience and research but ultimately you’re the one in the driver’s seat – you know what you want to achieve from your business goals – I’m here to support you along the way as best as possible. I believe in open communication – no “masks” or “personas” needed.
3 Benefits to open communication in business:
1. It promotes authenticity. If you want your customers/clients to really know you and what you stand for, be honest. Self-expression is not just for personal relationships but business ones too!
2. It shows you care. Being honest in your business, shows your customers/clients that you really care. It highlights the respect that you have not just for yourself but for those you are dealing with. Remember – your business is not all about you – it’s all about THEM – your client, customer, patient etc.
3. It creates a connection. It opens the channels of communication where people feel comfortable expressing who they are (whether you agree with them or not). Customer engagement is very important to the success of a business and how can you improve your product or service without honest feedback. When your customer/client knows they can come to you AND be heard, a bond is formed and loyalty can start to be established.