"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
- George Bernard Shaw
To continue our series on our core values, we’d like to shed some light on why we value transparency and communication as well as what that looks like when we work on projects with clients.
Transparency and good communication defined
Transparency, defined in a business context, is characterized by visibility or accessibility of information, especially concerning business practices. According to Business Dictionary, effective communication is “a two-way information sharing process which involves one party sending a message that is easily understood by the receiving party.” To us, it is important that our communication practices go hand-in-hand with a commitment to transparency.
How we practice transparency
So what does transparency look like to us? At KimbleCo, we aren’t afraid of challenging conversations and will practice openness and honesty in every situation. Sometimes, this looks like admitting when we don’t know something but making the commitment to find the answer.
We also strive to be approachable so our clients feel comfortable reaching out to us with any questions or concerns. Lastly, we aim for excellence in everything we do, from doing business honestly and fairly, down to using correct spelling and good grammar.
How we communicate effectively
Authenticity is important in our communication practices, allowing us to approach projects in a straightforward manner and with integrity. When communicating with clients, we prefer to communicate in a way they most prefer, whether that be via email, phone or in-person meetings. We also aim to communicate clearly and concisely.
Why listening matters
Listening is one of the most important aspects of being a good communicator. Listening carefully and attentively to our clients’ needs, goals and concerns help us better understand how we can work best for them. Julie recently attended Leadercast Women 2018 sponsored by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal and featured Tedx CreativeCoast speaker Celeste Headlee who spoke on how to have better conversations. Headlee explained how listening is critical for meaningful conversations because the speaker is then truly heard and understood. This is what we want most for our clients—to feel heard and understood. Only then can we really deliver on their goals and objectives.
Though listening often takes more time and effort than talking, it’s worth your time because of what you will learn. And, it’s worth your time because the person speaking to you is important and deserves to be heard. Plus, if you don’t listen well, there’s a higher likelihood for misunderstanding and frustration. This can be especially true in a professional setting. We believe that a commitment to being attentive listeners makes us better communicators.
At KimbleCo, we feel strongly that core values help to facilitate great relationships with clients. We share these values with you to show our transparency and so that you, too, can keep us grounded and honest in our values.
What values do you appreciate when working with vendors and partners? We encourage you to share them with us and always feel free to ask us about our values before we start on a project or transaction together.