Silence is Never Golden in Business

Recently, we have experienced another wave of non-response among consultants, clients, and vendors. In business communications, silence is truly never golden.

While working with a vendor recently, nearly a week went by without any response to a phone call, a text, and an email. We resorted to contacting said non-respondent by going through his mother! Younger generation colleagues can sometimes be the most challenging eliciting timely responses, or so our experience has been. It has been most frustrating and we find it unkind and disrespectful. Yet, often, they are unaware the lengthy timeframe or no response is received so unfavorably. Learning to work with many generations is something we all need to focus on at times.

And as we so often discuss here, payment responses can be some of the hardest ones to achieve. If a vendor is asking for an update on payment, respond. If a consultant is asking about their payment, respond. Just respond! The best approach is to provide payment updates on processing invoices and cutting checks or sending electronic payment. More communication around payment and its timing than less is the preferred response. People need money to pay their bills, to feed their families, to save, and to feed their pets. Never underestimate the importance of communicating about payment.

When it comes to business, just respond. Lengthy responses are not a requirement but no responses can say a lot more on the negative side and can ruin your reputation as a business to work with, both on the vendor/consultant and client side. Try hard not to be that colleague who buries him or herself in a pool of one.

Be well.