This week I struggled with the flu. If you are like millions of people in the same situation then you know the pain that I am talking about. Stuffy head, watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat, achy body . . . so, I did what any sick, complaining, whiny person would: I went to the doctor.
The first question she asked was, “Where does it hurt?”
It was a simple question. Only 4 words. So elementary, I almost glossed right over it. Luckily it dawned on me how essential this innocuous little question is to figuring out the root of the problem and finding a cure.
So, after I got meds in my system (and with a much clearer head) I looked back at my customers with a piqued interest and started asking them the same question: “Where does it hurt?”
Because of my role as an Account Director, I typically partner with Communications Directors and HR Managers, so the answers I got were specific to their roles:
- I can’t get messages to 70% of the staff
- Manager miscommunication is costing our company money
- Open enrollment — HELP!!
- I make a newsletter that NOBODY READS
- There is no accountability for distributed information
After hearing these ailments, I am now better prepared to diagnose the core issue — in this case, broken communication practices — and help with a solution.
Issues like this are what we specialize in, so our Red e App team easily streamlines internal communication structure and clears out the communications congestion. Yes, in my running analogy, this makes us a sturdy tissue for your stuffy nose. (I prefer the aloe kind).
Remember how there is always a follow-up doctor visit to make sure the meds are working? I encourage you to make this part of your routine with communication “medicine” as well.
Go the extra step and ask your employees for their feedback. Are your solutions working for employees? Are you providing effective communications that make their work-lives better? After key communication issues are out of the way, you have the perfect vantage point to see what still needs more love and attention.
Here are some examples of how these “follow up visits” translate into better communications:
We took the time to ask, “Where does it hurt?” and now each of theses real-life examples are features in Red e App.
So, take a moment and look at your team, your clients, your product, even yourself and ask where it hurts, because that’s exactly where you need to put your focus.
