When we fail to communicate, a few things can happen:
- people get nervous
- we get anxious
- people are forced to use their imagination to guess where you are and what you are doing
- trust begins to erode
Rather than spending time considering whether you should let others know what you're up to, make it a habit to communicate first. Be the first person to communicate. And communicate first, even when you don't exactly know what you will do second. Ways in which you can do this include:
- scheduling a meeting with your advisor or boss (even though you feel nervous about what will happen when you meet)
- letting a professor know you'll need extra time to complete an assignment, if necessary
- setting expectations by informing others when you think you will arrive, finish, or decide
- expressing your anxiety about your situation to others before it paralyzes you from getting help
When you communicate in an up-front way, others sense they can trust you. You've helped to put their mind at ease. You've also improved your own ability to focus on getting things done because you no longer have to worry about how awkward it is that you are not communicating to people who are waiting for you. Try it. You'll like it.
Have you been feeling the need to communicate but not acting on it? Is there someone waiting for an update from you? Take a few minutes to take care of the communication and then you'll feel better moving forward.
