Show, Don't Just Tell: Why Patience and Clear Communication Matter in Business

Have you ever explained something to a client, asked if they understood, and realized somewhere along the way that the message just didn't land?

I have.

And one thing I've learned is that sometimes the problem isn't what you're explaining. It's how you're explaining it.

When you're working with clients, especially when technology is involved, communication is just as important as the service you're providing.

Sometimes Showing Works Better Than Telling

One of my favorite tech tools to use is Loom.

If you're unfamiliar with Loom, it's a tool that allows you to record your screen while walking someone through a process, explaining a concept, or demonstrating how something works.

What I love most is that it gives clients more than just a set of instructions.

They can see what I'm doing, listen to my explanation, and even access a transcript of what I've said.

That means they're not relying solely on remembering everything from one conversation.

They have something they can go back to.

For me, that's incredibly valuable when I'm showing a client how to do something or helping them better understand a process.

Because sometimes, no matter how clearly you think you've explained something, actually showing it makes all the difference.

Patience Is a Method, Not a Mood

This might be one of the most important lessons I've learned when it comes to working with clients.

Patience is a method, not a mood.

It's easy to think that being patient simply means remaining calm when someone doesn't understand something.

But I see it a little differently.

Patience also means being willing to change your approach.

I've had conversations where I explained something, asked a clarifying question to make sure my client understood, and realized they completely missed what I was trying to communicate.

In those moments, I've had to consider something important:

Maybe the way I explained it was the problem.

And that's okay.

Repeating information in a different way doesn't mean the first conversation was a failure. Sometimes, it creates an opportunity to teach something more effectively.

The goal isn't to make a client feel like they're sitting in a kindergarten classroom because they didn't understand something the first time.

The goal is to help them understand without making them feel uncomfortable about asking questions.

Clear Communication Is Part of the Client Experience

When someone hires you for your expertise, they may not have the same level of understanding that you do.

And they shouldn't have to.

That's part of why they're working with you.

I've learned that explaining something once doesn't always mean I've communicated it effectively.

Sometimes I need to demonstrate it.

Sometimes I need to explain it differently.

And sometimes I need to ask another question to understand exactly where the disconnect happened.

What matters most to me is that my clients don't walk away from a conversation feeling like they've failed simply because they didn't understand something.

I want them to feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and being part of the process.

The Takeaway

Technology gives us so many ways to communicate, but having the right tools is only part of the equation.

Tools like Loom help me show instead of just tell. They give clients the opportunity to revisit information through video, audio, and written transcripts.

But the other part of the equation is patience.

Not patience based on how I'm feeling that day, but patience built into the way I work with people.

Because sometimes better communication doesn't require saying more.

It requires finding a better way to help someone understand.

And that's something I continue to work on with every client experience.

— Tahquetta Hunter
TECHnically Tahquetta Designs