Thanks for your thoughts on this subject; you’re right, of course. While your focus here is on the business communication cycle, I believe it is the same with personal communication. And, concerning both business and personal communication, many people don’t seem to understand the negative effect they create by not communicating quickly or failing to communicate at all, or, and equally as bad, saying they’ll follow through with a communication, but don’t (i.e, “I’ll get back to you in an hour, tomorrow, Friday….”).

The above said, by failing to respond to another’s communication (i.e., their message, inquiry, request, or by not following through as promised), we run the risk of the initiating party filling the communication void with their own interpretation as to why we’re not communicating; and, whether true or not, it’s generally a negative one… either about the reason for a non-response or the non-responder, or both. Think about the last time you tried communicating with someone and they didn’t respond. Chances are you were a bit frustrated, if not more than that.

The solution? Communicate. Let other’s know you received their message and, even if you can’t respond with a thorough answer, a simple acknowledgment goes a very long way in maintaining a good relationship.

My $.02.

Cheers,

Clay