Your client prefers email, but you prefer phone calls. How do you bridge the communication gap effectively?
When your client prefers email but you lean towards phone calls, finding a middle ground is essential. Here’s how you can bridge the gap effectively:
How do you handle communication preferences with clients?
Your client prefers email, but you prefer phone calls. How do you bridge the communication gap effectively?
When your client prefers email but you lean towards phone calls, finding a middle ground is essential. Here’s how you can bridge the gap effectively:
How do you handle communication preferences with clients?
-
Preferred mode of communication used by different age groups are different. Best ia to use use hybrid method. Do discussions and broad agreement over phone. Send draft of the discussion. Have a follow up call on draft and clarify any doubts over phone and finally conclude with formal email keeping all stakeholders in loop. This saves lots of to and fro emails and the time involved.
-
I will balance the communication through email and phone. I will have a pre defined schedule for phone calls with client. I will then update anything and everything between calls via email. I also convince client to use phone calls to get decision on certain matters. So balancing is the key to keep client happy as well as getting your work going smoothly without having to wait for the decisions through emails.
-
🌐 How I Bridge the Communication Gap! 🌐 📧 Email for details: Clear records, no missed info. 📞 Phone for connection: Quick updates, personal touch. 💼 Tech tools: Slack and Teams keep it all seamless. Balancing styles is how I build strong partnerships. How do you manage client communication?
-
Some ways to get started: 1) Invite your client to lunch, get to know them, the stronger the relationship, the less comms challenges you will face. 2) Have a conversation with your client, regarding a communication cadence, in order to ensure structure of procedures.I.e: what requires an email, what requires a phone call. Granted, not all situations require an email. 3) do both, work relentlessly with your client to ensure they are comfortable with the reoccurring communication you’ve set up and that the expectation is clear on both sides.
-
Acknowledge and respect your client's preference for email communication. Don't insist on phone calls if they clearly express a preference for email. Use email for initial contact, scheduling appointments, and sending documents or information. Suggest phone calls for more complex discussions or when immediate feedback is needed. Ensure that your emails are well-written and error-free. Get to the point and avoid unnecessary information. Respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner to show that you value their communication.
-
To bridge a communication gap with a client who prefers email while you favor phone calls, start by respecting their preference to build trust. Use email for structured updates and key decisions, keeping messages concise and clear. For complex topics, suggest a brief call, emphasizing efficiency and flexibility. Offer a compromise, like scheduled check-in calls with follow-up emails to recap. Gradually build comfort with both channels, ensuring all interactions add value. Adapt to the client’s style while subtly introducing phone calls for clarity and rapport, showing flexibility and prioritizing their convenience while keeping communication effective.
-
Before combining methods, it's best to learn the reason that the client prefers emails. For example, this could be a time constraint in their schedule, they're a visual processor or they honor the written word and want everything in writing. Instead of speculating the reason, get this from the client to best serve them. Then develop a combined method that reflects the actual needs required as well as the mode of communication; email and phone. Bridging the communication gap in this way allows for both parties to share what's important to them and gives autonomy.
-
Pros: E:This method upholds a sense of formality & creates a written record, which can enhance accountability in comms PC:They enable quicker exchanges, allowing for immediate responses & facilitating timely action Cons: E: One potential drawback is the uncertainty about whether the recipient has seen the message, which may occasionally cause delays in response PC: While convenient, calls can sometimes feel intrusive, especially at inconvenient times, & they do not produce a written record, which can lead to misunderstandings or forgotten details In summary, choosing the right method of comm should be guided by your relationship with the client & the urgency of the message, both of which are crucial for enhancing overall effectiveness.
-
- Start with a brief email outlining key points, then suggest a phone call for further clarification if needed. - Offer phone calls for urgent or complex topics and follow up with an email to summarize the conversation. - Agree to a mixed approach where emails handle routine communication, and phone calls are reserved for more interactive discussions.
-
I wonder why anyone would want to find a middle ground with the client regarding communication. If your customer would like email, please send emails. Pushing for another way of communication is disrespectful. You are there to meet the customers where they are, not to make them meet you halfway through.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
NegotiationWhat do you do if you're struggling to manage your time while negotiating with multiple parties?
-
Time ManagementHere's how you can improve time estimation and planning through clear communication.
-
Task ManagementHow do you communicate your task status and progress to your managers and clients?
-
Executive CoachingWhen deadlines loom, how do you ensure executives and teams communicate openly and effectively?