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Communication is Key to Teamwork: 8 Tips to Improve Communication in Team
Why Communication is Key to Teamwork?
They say communication is key to teamwork. To build an effective team, one must work on communication. Good communication can bring positive impact to the workplace, which means happier employees. A study shows that people who report feeling emotionally engaged and connected with their work and organizations, experience greater psychological well-being (read more on how to build and sustain relationship at work).
“Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication” – Mike Krzyzewski
Why is it important?
Team would be able to function better through good communication. Poor communication between team members might cause unnecessary tension or anxiety. Based on carrertrend.com, lack of communication in the workplace can create conflict in relationships among colleagues. A study from CPP Global Human Capital Record: Workplace Conflict and How Businesses Can Harness It to Thrive; 25% of people who experienced conflict in workplace experienced illness or absent, 9% even led to project failure (read more on the effect of conflicts here).
Therefore, organizations should encourage their employees to communicate better with one another for communication is key to teamwork.
How to Build Communication?
Here are some tips to improve communication within your team:
1. Define Expectations
Leaders should set goals and define their expectations to team members. Clarity in communication reduces confusion; managers cannot expect accountability in employee if they are confused about what they are supposed to do. For example, when we as a manager says: “you need to be more polite to the customers” to our team, we need to be able to define what do we mean by “polite”. Maybe something like: greeting the customers, and put on a smile.
2. Build Listening Skills
Listening is key in communication. Being a good team member means that we need to listen to what others are saying before giving comment or ask follow-up questions. Here are some ways to build listening skills excerpt from Forbes:
- Face the speaker and maintain eye contact
- Keep an open mind
- Try to picture what the speaker is saying
- Don’t interrupt to impose “solutions”
3. Ask questions and follow up questions
Clarifying facts, goal, timeline, or anything else is important in order to avoid misunderstanding. But do it after the speaker has finished talking or when they pause.
4. Be respectful
Be respectful in the way we explain our thoughts. We may have opinion, technical answer, but keep it respectful. People will not pay attention when someone is condescending or patronizing.
5. Don’t play the blame game
Not everything will go on smoothly; in fact most things do not in work. At some point it when it happens, what we say and do will show whether we are a good team member or not. If we focus on how it’s not our fault, the problems will get bigger. A team in it together and we shouldn’t make it someone’s fault.
6. Share the kudos
When something goes right and happens to be noticed, what we say and do will also shows whether or not we are a team member. We shouldn’t focus on how it’s all thanks to our effort. Again, we are in it together, and everyone deserve to have their hard work acknowledged.
7. Set the Example and Lead from the Top
Effective communication starts with leaders, followed by the team members. Leader should give good example of effective communication using steps above.
8. Encourage Team-Strengthening Communication
Host team-building or other events for team members to get to know each other. Also, coach employees about diversification, which allows them to celebrate unique qualities that make the entire team great.
People are complex, and that can make interacting with others challenging. At times, it can be downright impossible – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Today, people in organizations need to understand that everyone speaks a unique “collaboration language”. If you ever need help to improve communication and collaboration within organization, our award-winning psychometric tools will be a perfect fit for you. Mail us at: support@exquisiteconnection.com or click here.
Article excerpt from:
associationsnow.com (By Amy Goldenberg, Managing Editor of Anthropology News)