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Imagine if you went to your doctor, and after you explain your symptoms, they simply say, “Ok, mmhmm, got it,” without saying back anything as they walk out. This would be very disrespectful, especially after you’ve invested time into trying to be thorough.
We’ve seen this the most in written form- emails, text messages, etc., where we’ll write a thoughtful, personalized message and only get an “Ok.” or “Got it.” back. It leaves you to think “What is it that you ‘got’? Are we on the same page?”
Do you know doctors mirror things back? It’s not just for your sake, to show that they listened to you and understand, but also for theirs– structuring what they’ve learned about you and ensuring a mental checklist of items for them to review, while also providing an error-checking mechanism just in case they missed something or aren’t sure they heard you– which could mean dire consequences. This is true for us, too- as we’ve seen many things go off-course due to one small miscommunication.
This doesn’t mean blindly mirroring back everything you just heard. This is tedious to both parties and will quickly become cumbersome.
You must focus on the important elements like:
- Maintain ownership of your actions. When you forego active communication, the dreaded passive voice often takes its place.
- When requested to do something, outline your next steps. EG: “Would you please plant a garden?” leads to “I will grab my tools and seed bag and get started.”
- Stay on topic, and use clear, concise language. Don’t rapidly switch to something irrelevant, as this often derails a conversation, confuses everyone, and makes you look distracted or uninterested.
You will be amazed at what knowledge you retain and connections you build once you shift into actively communicating. You will build personal connections and drive things forward– Be less mindless robot and more professional human.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations.
He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications.
Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries.
Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.