Communication, simply put, is how we send and receive information. In business, communication is often multilingual and encases not only verbal communication but written and electronic, as well.

Making mistakes in how you communicate with others can lead to a breakdown in communication or impact the reputation of not only how people view you, but also how they view the company you represent. It’s vital for successful entrepreneurs to avoid the communication mistakes below.

Being Too Unclear or Vague

An entrepreneur that makes too many communication mistakes will find it very hard to be at the top of their game. It will impact how you interact with potential customers, which could change how they view you and your ability to help them.

A successful entrepreneur needs to think carefully about what they want to say before they say it. One step is to proofread all outgoing emails and text messages, for example. When speaking to clients or colleagues, it’s essential to speak clearly, and when answering questions be sure they’re understood before moving on.

Being Fake

First impressions count, so when meeting someone new for the first time it’s important to be true to yourself and to not make promises you can’t keep. Being fake and acting like someone completely different from who you are can make you seem insincere and unlikeable.

It can be tempting to tweak your personality to come across more appealing to whoever you’re speaking to. This can help if you’re only making slight tweaks, but avoid completely changing who you are as you’ll find it incredibly hard to keep it up as communication continues.

Interrupting or Ignoring

The most productive conversation is one which is balanced, so interrupting someone before they’re finished speaking is one of the worst things entrepreneurs can do. Interrupting just shows that you aren’t listening.

Listening will give you more time to think before you speak and the chance to better process what the other person is saying. Interrupting or not listening are things to avoid, as it’ll cause a bad first impression and could lead to a conversation breakdown or some awkward moments.

Being Too Negative

The worse thing an entrepreneur can do is meet someone for the first time and bad mouth a colleague or competitor for it to only come back and bite them later. Negative communication is also unwanted when it comes to delegating roles or discussing something important in meetings.

Successful entrepreneurs know when to put a more positive spin on things when it’s necessary for example. Being negative too often will make you seem like an overall negative person, which can lead to people not wanting to talk to you.

As well as face-to-face, it’s equally important to avoid coming across too negative in written communications. It’s hard to convey emotions via emails, but by choosing your words more carefully you eliminate negative reactions.

How much importance do you put on how you communicate with clients and colleagues? What other communication mistakes should be avoided in business?