This is the latest installment in the PPC magazine series Business Matters. This time: insights on running a family business.

1. It’s up to you

“Make sure you are understood. Don’t blame the other person for not understanding. Instead, look for ways to clarify or rephrase what you are trying to say so it can be understood.”

–Joel Garinkle, Garfinkle Executive Coaching

2. No secrets

“Be transparent. To show that companies care about their employees, they must be transparent. I’m sure we’ve all worked in a company where everything felt like a secret that only management knew. That type of culture breeds discontent.”

–Elizabeth Columbo, Senior Legal Counsel, Vendavo, Inc.

3. Never assume anything

“Eliminate assumptions. Many business relationships have unspoken rules with assumptions at their core. This might work for a while, but it’s better for all sides to openly communicate needs and expectations. Assumptions often cause misunderstandings, which can escalate into troublesome situations. Don’t assume that what happened before is what will always happen. Effective business communication can bring positive change, even if things have been bad.”

–Chuck Leddy, business communications trainer, B2B Clients

4. Keep learning new tricks

“A leader who doesn’t adapt to the new ways of communication will never be heard. We aren’t getting and sharing information the same way we used to. Understanding the various tools we have to communicate as well as how to communicate across different channels is essential, and as the number of ways to communicate increases, this skill will only become more valuable.”

–David Nelms, former CEO, Discover Financial

5. The bottom line

“Communication is the only task you cannot delegate.”

–Roberto Goizueta, CEO, Coca-Cola Company (1980-1997)

This article was originally published in the Summer 2022 issue of PPC magazine. Read more stories about running your painting business in the PPC magazine archive.