Smashing eBook_ Professional Workflow for Web Designers - Luke Reimer [11]
2. Use the phone
If you need a large amount of information or you find that your emails are not getting appropriate attention, give the contact a phone call. If you get no response, leave a voicemail – or you can always email and request a dedicated time for a half hour conference call – these are my favorite.
3. Respond as quickly as possible, even if you have nothing to say
If I get an email asking for information that I do not yet have, or that I don’t have time to put together right away, I find it best to fire back a response with a simple “Thanks for your email – I’m looking into this and I’ll get back to you no later than Thursday” (or something along those lines). Then, throw in a calendar appointment to get it taken care of, and get back in touch when you can. Lead by example!
4. Escalate problems appropriately
If there is a conflict or if problems arise, including being met with silence, be sure to follow proper protocols for escalating an issue through the mediums of communication. The concept is quite simple: email, then phone call, voicemail if no response, then call (without leaving a message) until you get the individual on the line or leave a message with reception. Be clear, but respectful, and avoid too many attempts. Think carefully before acting or contacting alternate individuals.
5. Organize yourself
It’s important not to fall prey to some of the problems mentioned here in terms of client efficiency with communication. Make sure that you have methods and tools to keep your communication prioritized and your responses timely. Often this has to do with your email software and using it to its full capabilities. Ask your colleagues for tips, or do some online research – especially if you’re feeling rushed, stressed, and overwhelmed by communication.
Summary and Take-Aways
• External application
Developing and refining strong communication skills, for both the day-to-day mundane or the complex or conflictual, allows you to expand your career prospects and demonstrate that you can be trusted to represent a company or group. This often provides the most interesting roles and networking opportunities.
• Internal application
The way that you communicate with your coworkers and superiors will largely define their view of you, how you conduct business, and your level of professionalism, maturity, and experience. Don’t sweat over the pressure, but rather understand that in communication the little things can come to mean a lot.
• Transferable skills
It’s obvious that communication skills are transferable, but this is true to an almost infinite extent. We communicate every day in a wide variety of ways to a wide variety of people – and often this can make or break opportunities. Always keep in mind the significance of communication skills, and work to improve your own by identifying areas of weakness or oversight. Bring your polished finished product everywhere you go, and you’ll see the benefits without question.
Conclusion
There are important lessons to be taken from corporate web design roles, such as those covered here: project management, understanding clients, process-based workflows, team dynamics and roles, and communication. However, there are also lessons to be learned from exclusively web design companies, and highly successful individual freelancers. Feel free to share your experiences from your fields in the comments!
Web Design Risk Management and Liability
Liability, insurance, limiting risk, and an understanding of the legal relationships we have as service providers are important areas of knowledge for web design agencies and freelancers alike. Working at the corporate level requires knowledge of these areas in order to safely navigate through projects and clients while protecting your company’s credibility, reputation, and financial stability.
In this article, I’ll walk through