Your inbox is packed, and your voicemail is full. There is a line outside your office, or you are pinged incessantly. You feel like telling everyone to take a number. Being responsive is a conscious and powerful decision that has numerous positive effects on your business and personal relationships, not to mention, a reflection of good old-fashioned decency. Lack of responsiveness can be your downfall.
Responsiveness requires you to carve out time daily and to prioritize responsiveness as a critical task.
Responsiveness implies communicating in a timely fashion – and may depend on the situation – from immediately to 48 hours but not beyond.
Responsiveness demonstrates empathy towards the other individual. You may not share the same concern but understand that it is an important concern for THEM and therefore merits a response.
Responsiveness does not mean that you must provide a final answer YET but acknowledge the communication and establish a timeline.
Responsiveness builds trust and loyalty; it strengthens connections and relationships.
Responsiveness demonstrates a sign of respect and value for another person’s time and effort and for that individual.
Lack of responsiveness sends an equally strong message of disrespect, and devaluing of the other individual or their time, effort, or inquiry.
Being proactive in your communications is also a type of responsiveness, eg sending a follow-up after an important meeting, a summary of next steps, a thank you after an interview, etc.
Responsiveness has a positive impact on others, it is a time-saving activity in the long run and can lead to overall business and personal success.
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