Why We Value Open Lines of Communication

This post is the first in a series exploring the values that guide our work at Colman Engineering. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing how each value shapes our approach—not as a declaration that we’ve arrived, but as a reflection of what we’re striving for every day.

At Colman, one of our six core values is Maintaining Open Lines of Communication. We chose this as a value not because we’ve mastered it, but because we believe it's essential to great work—and we’re committed to getting better at it every day.

In our world of design, deadlines, and coordination, strong communication can be the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that doesn’t. For us, open communication means more than just staying in touch—it’s about creating a shared understanding, building trust, and avoiding surprises.

We try to live this value in concrete ways, like:

• Timely responses – Getting back to people quickly, even if it’s just to say we’re working on it.

• Clear expectations – Defining scope, timelines, and costs from the start.

• Proactive updates – Letting clients and teammates know where things stand before they have to ask. (This one is challenging, especially when we’re so busy, but we’re working on it!)

• Active listening – Making sure we understand before we act.

Of course, we’re not perfect. Like anyone, we’ve had moments when communication fell short. But those are exactly the moments that remind us why this value matters. Every time we pause to clarify something, check in, or ask a question, we’re practicing the kind of communication we want to be known for.

This value isn’t just for our clients—it also shapes how we interact as a team. We aim to make space for questions, welcome different perspectives, and speak up when something’s unclear. Gil often reminds us that, even though he can argue strongly for his opinion, he’s open to being convinced if someone comes with a better argument!

We’ll keep striving to communicate better—because it makes our work stronger, our relationships better, and our team more connected.

Follow along as we continue this series, diving into the values that shape who we are and how we work!