Communicate?

Communication appears to be deceptively simple.  After all, we spend hours in meetings with our coworkers.  We talk with each other all the time.  Therefore we communicate.

While this may be true, I have found that with many teams it is not what is talked about that is important.  Many times it is the things that aren’t discussed that cause the biggest issues and challenges within a group.  Communicating effectively isn’t just about having the fun conversations it is also about ensuring that conflict and debate can happen in a way that prmotes creativity, innovation and ultimately a better outcome for the team.

How often have you sat through a meeting and not said what was on your mind?  How often have you listened to a ‘debate’ knowing that the answer has already been decided and that the ongoing conversation pointless?  Breaking the cycle and creating an environment where it is safe to say “I don’t agree” or “I don’t understand” is a huge undertaking that many teams fail to consider or achieve.

Try this simple exercise:  Ask your team what they think the three most important priorities are for your company and your team to complete by the end of this year.

I am guessing that this will result in a list of approximately (N-1) x 3 priorities.  Where N is the number of people you have asked (ok so you need to ask more than one for this to work).  But you get my drift.  If you dont have clarity around the goals that the team is working towards then you may want to reflect on the methods that you use to communicate them.  Ask yourself whether you just announced them or if there was an opportunity to discuss and truely understand them.  Why the goals are important and what role everyone on the team plays in achieving these.  An email is not sufficient.  A single meeting at the start of the year or quarter is not sufficient.  It takes numerous (research indicates over 7 times) times for information to be retained and remembered.  It will be the combination of your written word, the team meeting and the individual conversations and follow up that will help to ensure everyone understands what needs to be achieved, by when and why.

Communication starts with the goals and expectations for the team and individuals.  You then need to communicate your expectations for the daily interactions and dialogue that follows (more on this later)

Morag Barrett