More really is more when it comes to communication

Our 24/7 society that’s always on and always plugged in has increased tenfold the expectations in the field of marketing and communications. Now more than ever there’s an expectation for more, faster. More details, more deadlines, more account activity.

One piece of advice I’ve been given – and now pass along to others working in any fast-paced environment – is to over communicate. Less is not always more, but more really can be more. After all, we work in the field of communications.

A recent Forbes.com article reinforced that “over-communicating in today’s environment — with all the distractions afoot — may become the rule rather than the exception.” This is a popular topic with many points of view, and here are some tips based on my experiences and lessons learned.

• Strive for the same goal: Get everyone on the same page. Communicate roles, responsibilities, deadlines and more, so everyone is working toward one goal. Your teams can only work as hard as they know how to and that comes with clear direction and expectations.
• Communicate with purpose: Take the time to provide clear updates that are well thought out. Think of ways to be efficient with communication – update colleagues, clients and teams as needed, but don’t clutter an inbox for the sake of sending an email with no real update.
• Tailor to your audience: Tap into the resources available to you to find the most efficient way to communicate. Whether it’s email, text, phone, fax, meetings, etc., experiment to see what method works best for each person you work with.
• Clarify to minimize confusion: Err on the side of clarity. Ask the right questions, and ask a lot of questions until you understand. You know what they say when you assume… Ask until you’re sure your communication is clear and won’t be easily misunderstood.

--Amelia Ott, Senior Account Supervisor, @amott