Be a good communicator.
At Equimax, it is astonishing how often I encounter bad grammar, sloppy spelling, missing punctuation, and poorly thought out sentences. Good use of the English language is not just a form of torture devised by high school English teachers, it is the key to clear and effective communication.
Sometimes Lynna and I spend ten or fifteen minutes together trying to guess what a client is really trying to say in a message or on an order form. Don’t underestimate the negative effects of poor verbal and writing skills. Communication is the life blood of business relationships. If you take your speaking and writing abilities too casually, you will send the message that you take everything else too casually too. Prospective equine employers will notice.
Does your manner of speaking classify you as organized and professional, or slip-shod and non-caring. Don’t confuse informality and sloppiness. Informality can make people feel at ease. Sloppiness may very well cause them to hire someone else. Proof read every bit of business communication from the most insignificant email message to the most important resume. Take the time to be sure your message is clear and it is said, spelled, and punctuated correctly. Don’t hesitate to get other people to proof read your most important work and help you to word it with clarity. People will notice the way you write and the way you speak, one way or the other.
