Title: Unlocking Effective Communication: Making Your Conversations Work for You — In our digital age, communication is rapidly evolving, and mastering the art of conversation is more important than ever. Whether in professional settings or personal interactions, the phrase “per our conversation” often crops up, serving as a bridge between verbal exchange and action. This blog post delves into how this simple phrase can be effectively used in varied contexts. We will explore its role in crediting ideas, issuing reminders, explaining conversation outcomes, and summarizing discussions. By understanding these functions, you can leverage “per our conversation” to facilitate clearer communication and foster smoother relationships. ### If you want to give credit for an idea Acknowledging the contributions of others is a keystone of effective communication and a way to foster team morale and camaraderie. Using “per our conversation” to highlight an idea from a previous discussion shows respect for intellectual property and appreciation for collaborative efforts. It is not only about being polite but also about reinforcing trust and motivation among peers. For example, in a team meeting, if solutions to a problem are brainstormed, and your colleague, Alex, suggested a winning approach, referencing it in follow-up communications reinforces the acknowledgment. By stating, “Per our conversation, Alex’s idea to implement the new workflow system will be presented to management,” you recognize Alex’s contribution explicitly. This gives Alex credit while informing others involved about the action points derived from prior discussions. Such practice encourages more innovative thinking and participation within a group. People appreciate it when their ideas are acknowledged and given proper credit, and in turn, they feel more invested in the outcome of their collective work. This cycle of appreciation promotes a healthy, positive work environment that values each team member’s input. ### If you want to give a reminder In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to lose track of tasks and commitments. Here, “per our conversation” acts as a gentle prompt to recall previously discussed actions or timelines. This reminder can be crucial in steering projects toward successful and timely completion without overburdening the recipients. Suppose you have a client meeting where deliverables are decided with a fixed timeline. As deadlines approach, sending an email that says, “Per our conversation last week, the design draft is expected by Friday,” serves to jog your client’s memory without coming off as overbearing. This not only underscores the importance of the agreed timeline but also subtly nudges everyone involved to stay on course. In a personal scenario, if you are coordinating a gathering with friends and the details have been loosely defined, a message stating, “Per our conversation, we are meeting at 7 PM on Saturday at Joe’s Cafe,” is a simple yet effective way to anchor details into everyone’s plans. This reduces confusion and ensures commitment from all parties involved. ### To explain the results of a conversation Clarity is key when summarizing the outcomes of conversations. The phrase “per our conversation” provides a structured entry point into detailing these results, facilitating transparency and understanding. This is particularly useful in business dealings where multiple stakeholders need to be on the same page regarding project directions or decisions made. For instance, following a strategic planning session, a summary written as “Per our conversation, the team agreed to focus on expanding our digital marketing outreach in Q4” clarifies the team’s priorities and decisions that shape immediate action. This ensures everyone is aligned and clear about their roles and the direction moving forward. On an organizational level, feedback after performance reviews into actionable outcomes might involve a statement like, “Per our conversation, you’ll be leading the new client onboarding project to enhance your leadership skills, with quarterly reviews to track progress.” This clearly denotes the result of the discussion while setting expectations and opportunities for personal development. ### To summarize Efficiency is greatly enhanced when clear, concise communication is practiced. Summarizing conversations can often be simplified through the use of “per our conversation”, which captures the essence of lengthy dialogues, aiding in reducing misunderstanding and keeping everyone aligned. Consider a collaborative project that spans several months, with continuous meetings and discussions. Creating a synthesis, such as “Per our conversation, the key milestones agreed upon are to complete the research phase by end-March and begin prototype testing in April,” succinctly encapsulates crucial points. This summative use prevents oversights and keeps the collective memory of the group intact. For family or friends planning a trip together, using “Per our conversation, we decided to finalize the itinerary by next Monday with John’s help,” serves as a clear, shared understanding of next steps, thus preventing last-minute scrambles. By summarizing effectively, not only do you reinforce the main points discussed, but you also provide a clear direction for future actions, ensuring each participant understands their role in achieving the set objectives. — ### Next steps | Context | Use of “Per our conversation” | |——————————|—————————————————————————————| | Giving credit for an idea | Acknowledges contributions, motivates team members, fosters innovation. | | Providing a reminder | Keeps tasks on track, recalls commitments, balances prompting with politeness. | | Explaining conversation results | Clarifies outcomes, aligns team directions, establishes transparency and understanding. | | Summarizing | Condenses discussions, prevents misunderstandings, sets clear future actions and responsibilities. | Understanding how to use “per our conversation” effectively can turn your communications into powerful tools for better relationships, aligned teams, and successful project management. Whether in professional contexts or within your circle of friends or family, clarity and acknowledgment are invaluable in ensuring that conversations lead to meaningful actions.
