Team Communication Skills

Developing effective team communication skills starts by instilling ownership. . .

Creative people, like you and me, want to feel a sense of ownership in our day-to-day work lives. We want to "buy in" to the system and the team within which we work.

This "buying in" is initiated by good communication. . . the way we communicate the ideas, strategies, and frameworks by which we work.

Our Ideals Can be Our Friends or Our Enemies

As a leader, get to know what makes the individuals on your teams tick on a personal level. Then begin the dialogue by establishing a working relationship on that level.

Large corporate teams invest in significant time, resources, and energy to establish relationships.  But for small business teams, with limited  resources, time and energy must make up the difference.

The rewards are worth it. . .

On small teams, the ability to make meaningful personal connections with your fellow team members is easier because you must work closely together to accomplish your goals.

Even on Small Units, Team Communication Skills Still Apply:

You must:

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Action
• Encourage the Heart

Keep these principles in mind while communicating collectively with your team, or individually with the team members. These develop deeper relationships by getting your employees to "buy in" to your organizational concept.

For us, the shared sense of ownership in the workplace truly empowers. You feel the swell of pride when you realize your team and organization represents what you stand for individually. Your identity doesn't have to make adjustments for the actions of your organization.

This concept begins with the words you use individually, at the team level, and an organizational level. Good effective communication unlocks true organizational performance.

But still, how do we ensure effective communication on our team? And how does our communication impact how people perform?

In a team setting, effective team communication skills come at a huge premium.

Studies have shown, through good communication we can get more done, more effectively, and quicker than when the lines of communication break down.

Be the Guy in the Middle of the Network

By making deeper, more meaningful, connections with more people on your team and nurturing those connections you start true beginning of effective team communication skills.

Using these skills you'll inspire higher quality work from individual team members, make more connections, and leverage the collective value of your entire team. By modeling right action, you inspire your team to do the same.

With open lines of communication, information flows back to you like a river because you'll find yourself more connected to the sources of feedback and "centers of influence' within your organization.