Effective team communication is critical to the success of any organization, but many leaders struggle to create an environment that fosters open and clear communication. To build a cohesive team, it’s important to understand the key components of great team communication.
From active listening to regular check-ins, leaders must prioritize communication in all its forms. Below is a panel of ukbusinessupdates.com Business Council members share some essential components of successful team communication and why each is critical to team success.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Active listening
Active listening is key! It creates an environment of understanding, respect and trust. This includes paying attention, asking questions, and acknowledging the perspectives of others. It leads to productive discussions and better decision-making, while also preventing misunderstandings and reducing conflict. Encouraging and strengthening open communication through active listening is crucial. – Yasmin Walter, KMD Books
2. Room to take risks
Convey the idea that mistakes are okay – they are something to talk about and learn from. Mistakes can be a springboard to innovation if they are not feared, but rather embraced as learning opportunities. Above all, this mindset should come from leaders who need to create clarity within their organizations that enable autonomy and make room for people to take risks that may not materialize. – Jennifer Twiner McCarron, Thunderbird entertainment group
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3. Continued positive communication
It has been said before but communicate enough and then communicate more. Ensuring everyone on the team is part of the communication process by both listening and providing input is essential to building open and ongoing connections. This kind of positive communication should also be ongoing and not occasional to build trust between team members. – Catherine Wehlburg, Athens State University
4. Consistency
It is important to communicate with teams on a consistent basis to foster a culture of accountability, teamwork and community. If we want our teams to work together and advance the company’s mission and vision, we need to make sure we communicate clearly and consistently. – Kermit S. Randa, Symphony talent
5. Unambiguous reporting
Great team communication results when messages are clear and unambiguous. The sender must consider how the message could be misinterpreted, as well as the person’s culture and attention (or lack thereof), and then adjust how they will convey it. The receiver should declare that he understands the message and should not be afraid to clarify ambiguities, especially if the situation is critical. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
6. Intention
Thinking on behalf of other team members – acknowledging that everything you do affects someone else – is key to team communication. When making a decision or taking action, think about three simple questions to help you communicate more intentionally. These three questions are: Who needs to know? What specifically do they need to know? When should they know? – Jennifer Catron, 4Sight Group LLC
7. Clear expectations
Before a team starts working on a project, there should be a clear direction outlining expectations. Too often leaders expect their teams to know this inherently, but this has to come from the top. Give clear, concise directions and give them the freedom to do great work. Great team communication only fails when expectations are not clear. – Laura silver, Blue door communication
8. Accountability
The most important part of effective team communication comes down to accountability. When the members of a team hold each other accountable, they show each other some of the highest forms of care and trust, while also fostering an atmosphere of open and effective communication. – Matthew Davis, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc.
9. Empathy
Empathetic leadership is key to healthy team communication. It promotes a safe place for open communication and promotes innovation. If your team feels that their ideas are considered and valued, which is fostered by empathy, they will be more likely to share their ideas. Empathetic leadership creates team trust, better communication, and a greater sense of belonging among team members. – Jennifer Koy, Beauty care choices
10. Active listening
An important part of great team communication is active listening. This means not only hearing what others are saying, but also fully understanding and considering their perspectives, ideas, and concerns. Active listening helps ensure that all team members feel heard and valued. It can also lead to more productive and effective discussions and decision making. – Rakesh Soni, LoginRadius
11. Humanity
Creating an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable being themselves is critical. Show understanding that we are all human and life happens. Categorically destroy the old business expectation of leaving your personal life out of the office. I have noticed that when transparency is applied, people feel comfortable and communicate more openly with each other. – Adi Vaxman, Scheba Consulting
12. Confidence
Trust allows everyone to feel comfortable and safe sharing their ideas, opinions and feedback without fear of being judged or criticized. This creates space for collaboration and open dialogue, which in turn encourages creativity, problem solving and growth. When people feel involved and valued, they are willing to listen to different perspectives and work together towards a common goal. – Preston Byrd, Horizon companies
13. Friendship
Everything else follows from friendship. When team members feel like real friends, the chance of conflict is reduced and collaboration is optimized. In addition, there is much less risk of silo-based information bloat. The result is not only optimized communication, but also better morale, productivity and mental health. This comes from respect, maturity and equal opportunity so that everyone can win. – Nula Walsh, Mind Equity
