Mastering Communication: Why Speed of Response Trumps Speed of Resolution
Why It Matters
Prompt acknowledgment preserves trust, reduces repeated inquiries, and buys you time to find accurate answers, improving customer and colleague satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Summary
When someone asks a question, delaying any reply while you hunt for the answer causes anxiety and uncertainty for the asker. Instead of staying silent until you have a full solution, respond immediately with acknowledgement — e.g., “Good question; I need to look that up and will get back to you.” That simple acknowledgement transfers the task from the asker to you, improves perceptions of responsiveness, and reduces follow-up worry. Research cited in the talk shows speed of response matters more to stakeholders than speed of final resolution.
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...