Ever feel like you’re drowning in a sea of emails, meetings, and confusing tech jargon? You’re not alone. At Coditive, we’ve been there, done that, and found a better way. Let me walk you through how we’ve cracked the code on smooth, effective communication – both within our team and with our awesome clients.
Why Communication Matters (And Why We’re Obsessed With It)
You know that feeling when you’re trying to explain something important, but it feels like you’re speaking a different language? Yeah, we hate that too. That’s why we’ve made crystal-clear communication our north star. It’s not just about talking, it’s about truly connecting.
Did you know that poor communication costs large companies an average of $62.4 million per year in lost productivity? That’s a lot of cash going down the drain due to misunderstandings and unclear messages.
The Coditive Communication Playbook
We didn’t reinvent the wheel here. We took inspiration from companies like Basecamp and added our own secret sauce. The result? A communication guide that’s become our bible. Here’s a gist of the most important rules for our internal communication:
- Ditch the ASAP culture (mostly)
- Think remote, even when you’re not
- The “No Hello” Rule: Get to the Point
- Write it down, save a meeting
- Keep it cool, even when things heat up
Let’s break these down, shall we?
No More ASAP Stress
Ever get that message that says “ASAP” and feel your blood pressure spike? We’ve banned that word from our vocabulary. Well, almost. The only time you’ll hear “ASAP” around here is when we’re talking about honesty. “Be honest ASAP” – that’s our mantra.
Why? Because we believe in tackling problems head-on. The worst truth is much better when it’s revealed immediately. No sweeping things under the rug. Together, we can solve anything. It’s like having a team of superheroes on speed dial.
But why do we ban “ASAP” otherwise at Coditive? Here’s some food for thought:
- Research from the University of California, Irvine, shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to a task after an interruption. Imagine how much time we’re losing with constant “ASAP” requests!
- According to a survey by Udemy, the top benefits of reducing workplace distraction include increased productivity, with 75% of respondents stating they get more done and are more productive. That’s obvious, but additionally, 57% feel more motivated to do their best and 51% are more confident in their ability to do their job well.
- The American Institute of Stress reports that 83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress, with 76% saying their affects their personal relationships. Adding more “ASAP” requests only makes things worse.
By ditching the ASAP culture (except for honesty), we’re not just reducing stress – we’re boosting productivity and improving work-life balance. It’s a win-win-win situation.
Remote Mindset, Even in the Office
Picture this: You’re in the office, your colleague is right next to you, but instead of tapping them on the shoulder, you send a message. Crazy? Nope, just smart.
We operate like we’re remote, even when we’re not. It keeps everything organized, searchable, and accessible. No more “wait, what did we decide in that hallway conversation?” moments.
A study by Buffer found that 97% of respondents would like to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers. By adopting remote-style communication, we’re preparing for the future of work.
The “No Hello” Rule: Get to the Point
Here’s a game-changer in our internal communication: the “no hello” rule. It might sound a bit blunt at first, but trust me, it’s a productivity powerhouse. Here’s the deal:
- Don’t start your message with just a “Hello” or “Hi, are you there?“
- Skip the “You got a sec?” or “Quick question…“
- Instead, jump right into your question or request
Why? Well, it’s all about efficiency. In person or on the phone, these pleasantries make sense. But in text? They’re speed bumps on the highway of productivity.
Think about it: typing is way slower than talking. When you send a “Hello” and wait for a response, you’re essentially making your colleague sit there twiddling their thumbs while you type out your actual question. Not cool, right?
By getting straight to the point, you’re:
- Saving time (yours and theirs)
- Reducing interruptions
- Making it easier for people to prioritize responses
Don’t worry, you’re not being rude. In fact, you’re showing respect for everyone’s time. And if you really want to add a greeting? Tack it on at the end. Like this:
“Can you send me the latest project report by 3 PM today? Thanks! Hope you’re having a good day, by the way.“
People really appreciate clear, direct communication!
Meetings? Thanks, But No Thanks
Don’t get me wrong, we love a good chat. But endless meetings that could’ve been an email? Hard pass. We’re big fans of writing things down. It’s clear, it’s permanent, and it doesn’t eat up half your day.
Think about it: How many times have you walked out of a meeting wondering what just happened? With our approach, you can read, process, and respond on your own time. It’s like time travel for productivity.
A survey by Atlassian reveals that 78% of respondents feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings they’re expected to attend, making it difficult to complete their work. As a result, 51% have to work overtime a few days a week due to meeting overload, and for directors and higher-level positions, this figure jumps to 67%. Additionally, 76% of participants report feeling drained on days filled with meetings. By reducing unnecessary meetings, we’re saving time and increasing satisfaction.
Keep Your Cool, Always
Ever sent an email in the heat of the moment and regretted it instantly? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Our rule? If you’re feeling fired up, step away from the keyboard. Take a walk, grab a coffee, do some yoga – whatever helps you chill out. Then, when you’re calm, we can talk solutions, not problems.
Research shows that even brief mental breaks can help refresh your focus and prevent hasty decisions. By taking a moment to pause, you’re more likely to approach the situation with a clear mind and better judgment.
Speaking Client: How We Connect With You
Now, let’s talk about the most important part of our business: you, our clients. We’ve got a few rules we live by:
- Keep it simple
- Always respond
- You’re our VIP
- All project’s stuff in one place
Keep it simple
No tech gibberish here. We speak human, fluently. We want to make sure you understand everything we’re saying, without any confusing jargon. Here’s what that means in practice:
- We translate complex technical concepts into plain English.
- Our reports and updates are clear, concise, and jargon-free.
- We’re always happy to explain things in more detail if you need it.
- We use analogies and real-world examples to illustrate technical points
Remember, there’s no such thing as a “silly question” in our book. We’re here to demystify the tech world for you.
Always respond
Respond. Always. Even if it’s just to say “we’re on it!”. Your time is valuable, and we respect that. We’ll always respond promptly to your inquiries, no matter how big or small.
- Acknowledging all messages within one business day (often much sooner).
- Providing estimated timelines for more complex queries or requests.
- Keeping you in the loop, even when we’re still working on a solution.
- Being proactive – if we foresee a delay, we’ll let you know before you have to ask.
We believe that good communication is the foundation of a strong partnership. You’ll never be left wondering where things stand with your project.
You’re our VIP
Your success is our success. Period. We’re committed to helping you achieve your goals. Your satisfaction is our top priority. Here’s how we put you first:
- We tailor our approach to your unique needs and preferences.
- We’re proactive in identifying potential issues and opportunities.
- We celebrate your wins as if they were our own.
- We’re always looking for ways to add extra value to our partnership.
We see ourselves as an extension of your team, fully invested in your success.
Keep all project communication in one place
For project stuff, we keep all project-related communication, tasks and resources in one central, easy-to-access place. No more digging through endless email threads or searching multiple platforms for information. Basecamp is our digital workspace where we collaborate, share files, and track progress. Here’s why we love it (and why we think you will too):
- All conversations, files, and to-dos are organized in one place.
- You can easily track project progress and milestones without digging through your inbox.
- It’s user-friendly – no tech degree required to navigate it.
- You can access it anytime, anywhere, keeping you connected to your project.
We’ll give you a thorough orientation to Basecamp at the start of our partnership, ensuring you’re comfortable with this tool.
Our Tech Toolbox
We leverage familiar tools that you’re likely already comfortable with, while staying adaptable to your unique needs. Our core toolkit includes:
- Slack for quick communication and instant messaging.
- Google Meet for video calls, ideal when face-to-face conversations are more effective
- Google Docs for collaborative writing and seamless document sharing.
- GitHub for managing code repositories. We’re flexible here, too – whether you prefer GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, we can integrate smoothly into your existing workflows.
- Basecamp for project communication, as mentioned earlier.
This setup is simple, efficient, and gets the job done. Our goal is to ensure collaboration is smooth and productive, using the right tools for the task. Oh, and stay tuned! We’re working on a detailed article that will dive deeper into each of these tools and how we use them to maximize efficiency and communication.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, it’s all about making your life easier. No headaches, no confusion, just smooth sailing from start to finish. That’s the Coditive way.
Got questions? Ideas? We’re all ears. After all, great communication is a two-way street. Let’s keep the conversation going!
References and further reading:
- The Cost of Poor Communications: https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/article/the-cost-of-poor-communications
- The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress: https://ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf
- Udemy Workplace Distraction Report: https://business.udemy.com/resources/udemy-in-depth-2018-workplace-distraction-report/
- Workplace Stress: https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress/
- State of Remote Work 2022: https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2022
- Meet the #1 barrier to productivity: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/workplace-woes-meetings
- Brief and rare mental ‘breaks’ keep you focused: Deactivation and reactivation of task goals preempt vigilance decrements:
https://content.lesaffaires.com/LAF/lacom/mental_breaks.pdf - How we work and communicate at Coditive? https://coditive.com/communication/