Everything in your business revolves around good communication. Whether it’s sales, marketing, customer service or finances, it’s important that everyone within your company is constantly on the same page and feels connected with you and with the other departments in your business. When it feels like there’s something wrong with your communications practices, it’s imperative that you take instant action to correct them.

Here are some of the most common communication mistakes that you may be making in your company:

• One size fits all style. You need to realize that different people in and outside of your company have different needs and expectations, which means you need to alter the way you communicate depending on who you’re talking to. You can’t use a “one size fits all” communications strategy, because you'll be alienating quite a few important people.
• Harsh or negative tone. Watching your tone is especially important in written communications, because it’s not always as easy to decipher the intent or emotion behind a message as it is when it’s spoken. Keep a soft, pleasant tone when you speak, and double check any emails or other written communications before sending them to make sure they exude the proper tone.
• Avoiding difficult conversations. Nobody likes to have conversations that could lead to conflict, but it’s far worse to let a problem fester, as it could cause some irreversible long-term damage within your company. Address conflict and other difficult issues head-on so that you can limit the potential damage it could cause.
• Being reactive rather than reflective. It’s natural, for example, to hear bad news and respond in anger, but before you let loose with an emotional reaction you should be sure to take a deep breath and think about all of the facts surrounding the issue. This moment of reflection will allow you to avoid an emotional outburst and instantly begin responding to the problem at hand.
• Assuming that everyone understands you. Never assume that everyone understood the message you were trying to deliver. Take the time to ask if there are any questions that people have, or if you can clarify anything that you've said. When you do this, if you receive no response or silence from the audience – you have a huge problem!

Rid yourself of these bad communications habits and you'll be on your way to a more efficient, communicative business.