Communication and teamwork are two crucial ingredients when it comes to having an effective team. When you have a team that can openly communicate with each other, they will be better listeners and collaborators. In addition, they will learn the communication styles of their fellow team members, making it easier for them to work efficiently together.
Respect Other’s Opinions
Respect the opinions of other team members, even if they differ from your own. A leader and workplace that encourages its team members to openly express their ideas and opinions and the rest of the team to listen openly will find you have a team with less stress, a more positive outlook, and better overall problem-solving results.
Allow for two-way Feedback
Consider Feedback to be a two-way street giving team members and managers opportunities to grow and learn from each other. Employees need to express concerns, request help, and provide problem-solving solutions to their team leaders. And team leaders need to be able to do the same with their teammates.
Develop a Routine
You want to develop a communication and teamwork routine that best fits your team by prioritizing communication between the members. To help keep everyone on track, consider having daily and weekly check-ins—; individual meetings; and monthly or bi-monthly meetings.
Define Roles
Team members with clearly defined roles know and understand precisely what is expected for each role. Having these clearly defined roles will result in more cooperation and higher productivity within the team. In addition, all team members will know what they need to contribute, which will help streamline information and prevent duplicating work.
Lead by Example
Yes! Practice what you preach. Set the example of how you want your team members to treat each other by how you treat them. Inspire your team to participate in communications, provide relative feedback, and develop solutions to problems. When you create a communicative and healthy environment, your team will follow!
Encourage Transparency & Openness
Transparency and openness lead to trust within your team. When your team feels they can openly discuss problems, reach out for help or clarifications, and trust their leaders and their fellow teammates, they will feel like valued members of the team.
Practice Empathy
Everyone is different and has a different style in which they communicate. Take the time to learn the different styles that communication works with the various members of your team. You will find this will increase productivity in the communications you have with your team and how they interact with each other.
Encourage Team Building
Team Building isn’t all about fun and games. Sure, you want to have fun, but there is a purpose. It is an excellent way for your team to establish expectations, communication, and learn their fellow teammate’s strengths and weaknesses.
Communication and teamwork are critical when you want to have an efficient team that will implement practices that encourage communication and problem solving amongst the team members.
If you want to understand your communication style and that of your team, try having your team members take a free personality assessment.
