Communication Tip:

👉Ghosting professional people isn't cool.👈

Especially those you know.

Don't read into this.

I don't have an axe to grind or a person in mind.

But I have been ghosted occasionally.

⏱️Sure, we're all busy.

Still, you DO have a split second for a quick acknowledgment or emoji.

And it takes 12 seconds to type: "I'm in the midst of a big project and deadline. Thanks for reaching out." 🎯

Common sense and courtesy go a long way.

The two most dangerous words when communicating in business and life are:

I know.

You may indeed know what the other person is saying.

Or trying to express.

Still, pay attention to how you say your "I know."

Is your tone one of arrogance or dismissal of someone else's idea?

This is about being self-aware.

And self-awareness is often a struggle in A/E/C.

You may be communicating to others subliminally that you are close-minded and closed-hearted.

A slight shift can help close a bid or form a new connection.

Do you know this social abbreviation: IYKYK.

If you know, you know. (My adulting kids recently told me the meaning.) No judgment, please. 🙄

So, here's a loaded question for construction executives and principals...

👉Do you know when each person on your team last had sales or communication training?

This is a critical piece of risk management you probably haven't considered.

Risk management isn't limited to job sites or design reworks. 👈

A/E/C firms lose market share, talent, and trust when teams can't confidently articulate their value. And their brand values.

Forget bid packages for a minute.

They need and want the storytelling and selling techniques for today's business world.

Your reputation and bottom line are on the line when you fail to see gaps in communication.

🎆People who close contracts are exceptional communicators. 🎆

So, here's a scary fact:

Some 90% of the people in my A/E/C training programs have never attended a formal program until we met. Engineers are espe...

The most important four-letter word in business and life is CARE.

For me, CARE is an acronym.

• Your Communication is based on what you pay Attention to.
• Your Attention (focus) determines your Results.
• Your Results can be Excellent.

How do your prospects, clients, and fellow human beings know you care about them?

Are you focusing on the correct problems your prospects are experiencing? Do you know how to improve your presentations and conversations? 

Notice your communication patterns and habits. It's all about self-awareness.

If you want better results, it's time to CARE in a new way.

Communicating in a silo is like being trapped inside a bank vault.

There are thick walls, and even when you scream your loudest, no one hears you.  

Architects, engineers, and construction leaders know plenty about building design and (thick) walls on job sites. 

With communication, let's demolish the invisible walls in AEC firms.

These silos and the "stay in your lane" mentality derail business development and collaboration.

Project managers, commissioning engineers, schedulers, and estimators innovate on job sites. 

Teams can — and must — understand how their creativity and confidence apply in shortlisted meetings.

Silos stifle creativity, communication, and profitability. 😮

"You can give people tools and resources, but the most important thing you must do is change their mindset," says Claus Jensen. He's the chief innovation officer at Teladoc Health.

Yep, it's the virtual telehealth company. 

Many leaders in A/E/C are beginning to innovate by breaking down the walls betwe...

Processes and procedures. 

A/E/C firms have long been hot on operations. 

What happens, though, when senior leaders teach new hires inefficient methods?

😵💫The cost of doing business like this is mind-boggling.😵💫

Productivity, morale, lost bids, and the labor shortage, to name a few. 

Senior management must know how to train and onboard new hires in new ways. 

👉Are you showing people how you scramble to prepare for a short-listed meeting the day before?

👉Do you confide that you don't know who will be in the room?

👉Does your team know when to speak and what to share?

👉Are they sharp and paying close attention to each other and the decision-makers?

I spoke recently at my local SMPS chapter on this topic.

The business development leaders unanimously agree:

They need (and want) to learn new communication and selling strategies, such as:  

• Storytelling

• Reading the room

• Body language

• Vocal pacing so that your words *land* with prospects

These tools ensure that...

You don't have to ask more questions to close more A/E/C projects.

You have to ask better questions. 🎆

How you gather information during a presentation will differentiate your firm in shortlist interviews.

😮Oh, and don't forget to listen to the responses.😮

Quality questions bring quality information.

They also result in higher-level conversations and trust.

And more clients.🎯

A/E/C = Processes.

Networking and business growth = People.

Then processes.

First, you metaphorically nudge the door open.

Focus your 30-second elevator pitch on the other person.

Processes take more than 30 seconds and are cumbersome.

Your job in business development and shortlisted meetings is to avoid cumbersome.

Instead, pique people's curiosity. There's no need to be a walking bid package.

Nudge the door open.

🎆Be interesting so they are interested. 🎆

When a prospect invites you to a meeting or coffee, ease into the process. But only if asked.

When do you feel the most confident?

When you know in your heart you've prepared and are ready. 

You FEEL self-assured and skilled at what you do.

You trust yourself at a deep core level. 

Forget the business adage that feelings don't belong in the office.

You have to consider how you physically feel when you think about:

• Shortlisted meetings
• Team collaborations
• Networking events
• Speaking at a presentation

With physical tightness, anxiety, or a headache, you're not ready. 

You can't be confident and win bids when you don't feel secure and strong. 

Architects, engineers, and construction pros win bid packages by preparing their data.

And their mindsets.

Forget the kitchen sink. 

Prospects want essential and compelling data. 

And a story to make the (dry) data come alive.

You prepare with your Business Development team DAYS ahead of your shortlisted interview. Maybe even a week (gasp!) 

Scrambling to prepare hours before your meeting won't work well. 😵💫

There's too much on the line.  

And you never, ever "wing" any part of your A/E/C presentation. 

• You and your colleagues know who will speak and what they'll say. 

• You have a point person who can course-correct when prospects look bored or confused. #Readtheroom

• You value the preparation process so that you boldly show up and win trust and new projects. 

Strong communicators give themselves the space and grace necessary to succeed.💪