On a scale of 1-10 (low – high), how would you rate communication in your team this past week? Were there missed messages, unresolved questions, or possibly even a smooth exchange of ideas and information?
This is Chris with Level Up Leadership. Let’s look at how to improve team communication because it needs to be clear and frequent. Communication isn’t just about more discussions or emails, but rather bringing about clarity and increased productivity.
With a free flow of information:
- Questions get answered.
- Concerns disappear.
- And purpose becomes understood.
Here’s how to create a culture of communication.
Setting a Foundation
1: Share Knowledge and Resources
Document meetings, processes, and reports in a shared wiki, and allow others to contribute as well. When knowledge becomes openly available, it sets the expectation for transparent communication. And with transparency, the quantity and quality of communication improve.
2: Communicate Asynchronously
Slack or another similar message tool allows teams to easily and quickly communicate. Questions increase, as do answers and offers of support throughout the day.
3: Set a Routine
Set morning standups, either face-to-face or over Slack. Others are able to ask questions, make comments, or offer resources. As a result, no one is out of the loop.
Establishing Expectations
4: Expect Respect
Whenever communication belittles, ridicules, or shuts down another’s validity, then you need to step in. The same is true of microaggressions, which may be more difficult to detect. Be sure to communicate supportively to maintain a collaborative and safe environment too.
5: Welcome Feedback
And don’t forget to also be open to challenges, feedback, ideas, and suggestions. You should ask questions, as well as gain the input and perspective of others, without anger, irritation, or retribution.
Pro point!: Avoid an open-door policy.
Although it might seem to improve communication, but an open-door policy is passive. You wait for people to raise questions and concerns rather than seek them out. Instead create a cadence of communication and sharing.
Creating Space
6: Ask Questions
Questions not only help you understand more deeply, but they also help others more deeply explore their thoughts too.
7: Speak Last
Your words carry more weight. They influence decisions made and the direction taken. If you want communication to more freely flow within the team and not through you, get into the habit of first staying silent.
Wrapping Up
Remember: As a leader, it comes down to you to model the desired behavior.
- The team won’t share knowledge if you squirrel away info.
- The team won’t respect opinions if you interrupt.
- If you make declarations, the team won’t volunteer ideas.
You set expectations through actions repeated again and again. A one-time declaration of how the team should communicate will not be enough.
Catch you next week!