Navigating Roadworks: The Importance of Clarity in Communication

Over the past few weeks, I've encountered situations where men in high-visibility jackets attempted to direct traffic around roadworks. These encounters sparked some reflections on the significance of clarity in communication strategies. If you've been following my journey, you know that I have a deep-rooted passion for clarity in communications, which is also what I assist business people in achieving through their communication strategies.

During two separate incidents while driving, I found myself faced with roadworks, both involving men in high-vis jackets directing traffic. In the most recent encounter, a man stood beside a stop sign, flapping his arms about in the direction of keep moving on. I was confused because the sign he was carrying said stop. He kept flapping his arms waving me on so I slowly proceeded forward, until he panicked saw cars coming in the opposite direction and stood in front of my car and then started pointing at his hand. 

Now the stop sign is a fairly universal signal, so much so it’s included in the driver theory test all would be drivers have to take. This particular man clearly had not read that section of the text book. We all make mistakes we’re human after all but the incident got me thinking. This miscommunication highlighted the importance of clarity, as what he intended to convey and what I understood were mismatched.

This incident emphasized the necessity for businesses to take a moment to understand their customers' perspectives. Whether it's the experience customers encounter on a website or when interacting with staff in-store, clarity is crucial. While we may not control how we're perceived, we can communicate with clarity, certainty, and an open tone to ensure our message resonates.

In the realm of business, clarity in communication is paramount. Whether it's through body language, written words, or verbal communication, we must be clear in our messaging, intent, and tone to avoid misunderstandings that can cost businesses both financially and reputationally.

All too frequently business leaders are so focused on the spreadsheet that they forget to check their communication strategy. Is the team singing off the one hymn sheet? Are you causing confusion in your messaging? These are all questions we need to ask as business leaders, your communications strategy is not a one and your done job, it needs to evolve as the company evolves and all members of the team need be clear on all aspects of the messaging and what is expected of them. 

If you need help with this email me on hello@thecommunicationscoach.ie 

Local News

In local news, I'm excited to share the launch of "Cut Through the Noise with Aisling O’ Rourke," a podcast aimed at helping business leaders effectively communicate with their target audience. Episodes released so far have covered topics such as the necessity of putting communications at the core of business strategy and the benefits of email marketing. This week's episode focuses on harnessing the power of storytelling to connect with customers.

You can listen on to the podcast here. https://open.spotify.com/show/4xJiLc1WthwRwMDMvvJaLZ

Please do hit that follow button it really helps to bring the podcast to a new audience. 

Additionally, I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of clarity in communication on Louise McDonnell's podcast, the Social Media Takeaway. You can listen to that episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jMWd0tivCkK1pYzhn4W8G

A fresh Portuguese Perspective 

Currently, I'm working on Erasmus in Porto, engaging with wonderful business people. This change of scenery provides a fresh perspective, vital for personal and professional growth.

This week has me thinking about my values and working to ensure they are part of my day to day work. As I get older I’m finding it so much easier to be authentic in who I am and what’s important to me both professionally and personally. I’m as guilty as anyone of loosing track of time and focusing on work over life so I’m going to try and take a leaf out of my Porto experience and value time over work every day. 

Get Involved

As always, we welcome collaboration opportunities. Whether you're interested in media coaching, podcast sponsorship, or have ideas for the blog I want to hear from you! Reach out to us today to start the conversation. You can email me on hello@thecommunicationscoach.ie or fill out this form if you’d like to apply to be a guest on Cut Through the Noise with Aisling O’Rourke. https://thecommunicationscoach.ie/cttnpod

A New Look

Finally a big thank you to Caroline Murray of Portrait Boss for my new brand photography. I was delighted to collaborate with after seeing her support for Ronald McDonald House at Crumlin Children’s Hospital which is a cause close to my own heart as a former long term patient at the hospital. 

Caroline pulled out all the stops helping me feel comfortable on camera and I am delighted with the results. You can check out her work here. 

https://www.portraitboss.com/

That’s all for this week. Remember while content may well be king, communicating with clarity is key to helping you and your brand cut through the noise and reach your target market.

Thank you for your continued support,

Aisling O’Rourke  

The Communications Coach