I recently hired a lawn care company to remove a few bushes and a tree trunk, plus build drainage in my backyard. The contractor is a friend—an all-around great guy I’ve known for a couple of years—and he did a fantastic job at a reasonable price. 

However, throughout the process, I felt “under-communicated.” Maybe it was my fault for not clearly setting expectations, but there were times I didn’t hear from him for weeks. I even started removing bushes myself, only for him to show up unannounced to clear the area.

At one point, I noticed pipes and yellow marks on my lawn. At first, I had no clue it was related to the project—I even wondered if UFOs were involved. A couple of weeks later, I saw green grilles, and then the sod was laid. In the end, the project turned out great, but I felt out of control and uncertain during the process. I started wondering if I had upset my friend or if he had simply lost interest. It was a fantastic job, but the poor communication left me feeling uneasy.

Here’s another example: I subscribed to a podcast editing service. After paying for a trial episode, I received a confirmation email saying someone would reach out with next steps. Ten days passed with no communication, so I followed up with the business owner. It turns out he was waiting for me to send materials. It worked out, but I only stuck around because his price was competitive. He’s a great guy with…