Communication is an essential tool for any business owner. How you communicate can make or break a business. Good communication within the company is crucial for a good relationship between you, your partners and your employees.
Pitch it
Startups should communicate like all companies, except the startup pitch. This particular type of communication for startups has its own rules and formats, but always one goal: to present its idea to an uninformed audience. Whether it is an elevator pitch, stage pitch or investor pitch, the speaker always has a limited time to present their concept understandably. So stick to the rules and share your vision. The pitch is a form of communication that is only successful if both the sender and the receiver understand the same information.
Get connected
The startup pitch is always just the beginning. After the pitch comes the following important communication for startups: talk to the right people. Answer questions, ask questions, exchange contacts and expand your network. Then keep the communication going, make appointments to speak, write and answer emails, stay in the conversation. Who is the right person to talk to? Everyone has to decide for themselves; diversity is essential to get to know different points of view and to have different conversations. Not every contact becomes a partner or investor, but the exchange in one’s network is a priceless investment in the long run.
Sharing is caring
The idea that creates a startup is always the best, the most innovative, the most groundbreaking. But is it? Ask others for their opinion, point of view, and experience. Questioning yourself is uncomfortable and difficult but necessary. Exchanging ideas with others, asking questions and answering questions promotes understanding of one’s ideas and aspects. Criticism is essential, but only when it comes from those who have the expertise and question the project in specific parts, not in its entirety. The right person to talk to is up to each person to answer, but communicating with others about one’s ideas, perceptions, and plans is essential. There is no need to repeat the mistakes of others if you know about them.
Talk in the team
Good communication is vital in external relationships, but even more so when dealing with partners and employees. Being a leader means passing on information, taking it in and accepting feedback. Communicate tasks and responsibilities so that expectations are consistent on all sides. Adverse events should be communicated openly and neutrally, without blame. Positive results should be shared just as plainly. Employees are always critics of their own company; their feedback and input should be valued and accepted.
Good communication works
The communication of a company influences the perception of the same. The communication of one’s products or services, the approach to potential customers and the exchange in existing business relationships form the reputation of one’s own company and are the basis of future business success. Conversations with employees and communication within teams are crucial for individual satisfaction, which should be kept high to accelerate business success from a positive working environment. Employees want to be informed, addressed and heard; their questions and input are valuable.
For questions about the program and our curriculum, please contact [email protected]
This program is financed by the European Social Fund (ESF), as well as the State of Berlin.
