Communicate Directly and Honestly

In this day and age, with so many companies to choose from, there’s no question that finding the right one to work with or work for can be difficult. While scouring through what seemed like hundreds of job applications and company websites searching for the next adventure in my career, I concluded that “core values” for most companies were chosen quickly, vaguely, and – quite frankly – without much thought. 

However, when I came across (un)Common Logic’s website, it was clear to me that each of their core values was well thought out and that they matched perfectly with my everyday life values. As I went through each round of interviews, I became more and more assured that these core values were not just posters in the bathroom stalls used for decoration, but a guideline for everyday work life at (un)Common Logic: 

• Do What It Takes to Deliver Excellent Results
• Communicate Directly and Honestly
• Have the Right Attitude
• Do What You Say You’re Going to Do
• Do the Right Thing
• Always Learn and Try New Things

Why is Establishing Core Values for Your Company So Important? 

Establishing core values is not only essential to cultivating a rich, healthy company culture, but it can also make or break the success of your company as a whole. In fact, MarketingDive put together a study that reported that “brands with a high sense of purpose experienced a brand valuation increase by 175% over the past 12 years.”

If you’ve ever tried to put together IKEA furniture without an instruction manual, you probably agree that it’s not the best idea – no matter how easy it may seem. While it may look like a simple task, jumping into it without guidance can lead to disaster down the road.  

In putting together the right core values, it’s important to sit down and think carefully about what kind of culture you want this company to truly have. One thing that I’ve learned from working at (un)Common Logic is that culture is much more than having ping pong tables, casual dress codes, free food, and nap pods. While all those things are great, culture boils down to the values you hold your company and its people accountable for.

What Does It Mean to Communicate Directly and Honestly?

(un)Common Logic’s value that has resonated with me the most is “communicate directly and honestly.” If I’m being honest (no pun intended), this value didn’t resonate with me until I saw it in action. I read the value and figured it was an absolute given – why wouldn’t you communicate directly and honestly? However, as my time went by at (un)Common Logic, I realized that no other place I’ve worked at has communicated as directly and honestly as (un)Common Logic does. Working here, I have developed a newfound understanding of what communicating directly and honestly really means.

A living, breathing example of this value is our account manager, Callie Langford, the queen of communicating directly and honestly. Why? Every single word that she says is intentional in this regard. I can always count on her to call out unrealistic expectations from clients, as well as tell me when my work is not what she’s looking for. However, she always keeps the feedback kind and thoughtful – with the other person’s growth in mind.

From her, I realized that communicating directly and honestly is less about yourself and more about benefiting the person on the other end of the communication.

When thinking back on all the instances and reasons why I hesitated to communicate directly and honestly in the past, I realized it was due to my fear of hurting someone’s feelings, my desire to put off a difficult conversation, or my dismissal of the interaction’s significance.

In truth, whether it be a conversation with a client or a coworker, effective communication is all about saying what needs to be said with the other person’s success in mind. 

Why is Mindful Communication Critical to Your Company’s Culture and Success? 

Mindful communication is the foundation for building genuine, healthy relationships. Once you start communicating with the other person’s success in mind, you begin to foster a healthy, supportive work environment. With everything out on the table, you’re able to efficiently solve problems as a team.

In addition to contributing to the growth of your coworkers, you’re also building relationships with your clients. In an industry like digital marketing, wherein so much of the work revolves around communicating with your clients, being transparent about expectations and delivery is ultimately what will allow your career and company to flourish. In (un)Common Logic’s case, word-of-mouth is the #1 driving force for sales, and that is a privilege owed primarily to our excellent client relations. Relations that, without the foundation of direct and honest communication, would simply not be what they are. 

Tips for Communicating Effectively at Work 

Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips for practicing effective communication:

• Learn and understand your team member’s communication style and cater your feedback based on your findings – Each person has a unique communication style! (un)Common Logic took the time to analyze each and every person’s communication style through a quick personality quiz to ensure that we were being communicated to in the most efficient and effective manner. 
• Have those difficult conversations in person rather than through email or instant message – Without the context clues of body language or tone, difficult conversations can easily be misinterpreted and cause unneeded tension. (Think about how you feel when you see all capital letters or multiple exclamation points in a message!)
• Ensure that personal preferences and biases are not playing a factor in difficult feedback – When feedback is based on a personal preference, be sure to communicate that. It’s important to catch yourself reporting personal preference as concrete feedback. Since it may be viewed differently from another set of eyes, communicating the intention behind the feedback can save the recipient from confusion and frustration.
• Communication is a two-way street –Remember that communication works both ways. Responding to feedback in a direct and honest manner and being transparent about what you can and can’t do is key to great communication. It’s okay to disagree with something so long as you’re keeping the success of both parties in mind.  

Want to know more about how (un)Common Logic has the right attitude or builds our winning culture?

Whether you’re thinking to hire (un)Common Logic or come work within our team, we know you’ll see our values in action every day!