No Bricks Between Friends


Sometimes it's hard to give honest feedback, especially if it's negative. After all, the other person worked hard to create something and their feelings might be hurt. But the work is just not 'right', and may even be horribly wrong.

What do you do? Be honest, and give good direction about what you don't like and what you'd like to see instead. And what if you don't exactly know what you'd like instead? Be honest about that, too.

When discussing this with a new client recently, she said, "No bricks between friends." That saying came from her Irish grandmother, Annie, and the wisdom can certainly be applied to our business relationships, too.

Communication, by any of the many options available, takes time and costs money. But we are not saving time by withholding critical feedback. Here are two scenarios that might happen if we do:
  1. Later in the project, for example, a website, it becomes evident that the work is not pleasing. And later in the project, it will take much more time to make changes than at the start.
  2. With zero or little feedback, the project goes on to completion. But we aren't happy with the results, and may even tell other people that. And, before long, we might be looking to have the work done over again by someone else - also expensive.
These are not outcomes desired by either person in the relationship.

If you can't articulate your needs, a good independent contractor will help you do that by asking the right questions to draw out information and ideas. Time spent in honest communication early on will always lead to better results.

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