Why Your Biggest Business Problem Might Be Communication

We had a cracking little communication failure in our place this week.

A small problem with our dishwasher in the kitchen.

The engineer came out, diagnosed the problem, and told someone it needed a new part – no immediate panic, but it would pack in soon if not fixed.

And that’s where the message died.

No one passed it on.

I didn’t know it had been looked at.

Someone else assumed I knew.

And the dishwasher simply carried on.

Until Wednesday, when it flooded our kitchen.

All avoidable - if someone had simply communicated, “Here’s what’s happened, here’s what needs doing.”

Miscommunication at its best.

Two days later, I caught an interview with Squadron Leader Jon Bond from the Red Arrows.

He said something that hit me right between the eyes:

“When you’re flying in formation at that speed, communication isn’t important. It’s critical.”

Simple.

Obvious.

But brutally true.

Because with the Red Arrows, one unclear instruction at 400mph doesn’t cause a mild inconvenience.

It causes a catastrophe.

And yet in small retail businesses?

You tolerate vague instructions every single day.

You assume messages get passed on.

You think you’ve been clear.

You hold half the detail in your head and expect the team to know the rest.

But here’s the truth:

Most breakdowns in your business - waste, staff mistakes, customer niggles, are rooted in poor communication.

The dishwasher was a small example, but your shop versions are far more expensive.

Improve your communication and you improve your business performance.

Fast.

Something worth mulling over this week.

Have a great week.

Mark