Running head: THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAM COMMUNICATION
The Importance Of Effective Team Communication and How It Is Achieved
Janette L. North-Kabore
University of Phoenix
References
Internal Communication - Getting Your Company's Brand Across to Your Employees. (2009, February 17). Retrieved from http://www.teambuildingtips.com/team-building-articles/team-communication/internal-communication---getting-your-companys-brand-across-to-your-employees.html
Introduction To Teams. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2009, from University of Phoenix Web site: http://www.apollolibrary.com/LTT/download/IntroductiontoTeams.pdf
Introduction
This paper explores the importance of team communication and the various avenues available for effective
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Often, taking time to acknowledge this fact pays dividends. For example, at a recent meeting I observed one team member seemed to be more agitated than normal and was not contributing his normal flow of task-related comments and suggestions. After a little while, someone asked him “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing” was the reply, “just that my daughter had a baby yesterday and I’m over the moon.” Laughter and congratulations erupted and after a few minutes the whole team continued its meeting with renewed focus. Whether it is easy for us to acknowledge our feelings or not, how we feel influences how we perform.
Be prepared to allocate about 10 per cent of a meeting to maintenance. Most of this will take place at the beginning and end of the meeting, but it may be necessary to take a break during a meeting to allow team members to look after their own needs.
Process
This is the act of stepping back from the detail of the meeting to comment on how the meeting is unfolding. This requires facilitation skills and the use of feedback that describes rather than judges what is happening. Usually the people most involved in a discussion are the least aware of what is happening around them. A simple comment like “Jim, that’s the third time you’ve interrupted Linda as she tried to speak” will draw Jim’s attention to an aspect of his own behaviour of
It is essential that there is effective communication to build an effective team. Effective teams need to work well together and that team cohesiveness depends on building strong relationships among team members. Communication is crucial and is driven by the team leader who will work with the team to establish ground rules and work to bring the team together so that it can accomplish its goals. All teams will go through expected stages of development, from forming to storming to norming and eventually performing according to Tuckman. Navigating through these stages effectively will help teams build relationships which in turn improves communication. Effective team communication can lead to both personal and professional development. Some examples of good communication are the holding of regular catch up meetings, active listening (by management and team members), regular feedback, clear vision and goals. In contrast to the above poor communication skills can have an adverse effect on team working. If team members are not communicating amongst themselves then
Teams are an integral component of organizational success. They take on many forms and functions and can have various structures. Teams also conduct a wide variety of projects with goals of innovation or mitigation. An example, from my experience, of a project that required the execution from a team was the establishment of a finished goods inventory program within a paper manufacturing company. A project of this magnitude required that a diverse and multifaceted team be assembled.
Throughout the readings communication was identified as a vital component for establishing and maintaining relationships. Porter-O Grady sanctioned for leaders to establish firm rules of engagement to help support a positive group dynamic (2013). While Kelly & Tazbir explained that friction and conflict were a normal part of group development and were representative of the Storming stage of group process (2014). Moreover, they explained that with assistance from the team leader the team can overcome these obstacles, strengthen inter-professional relationships, and enter into the Norming stage (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). Here the team is able to participate in the effective exchange of communication and begin making progress toward goals. This represents progression into the Performing stage of group process (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). When the team has met its intended target they are ready to anylze the outcomes of their work and enter the final stage of group process—Adjourning (Kelly & Tazbir,
|Team Member Name |Summary of Individual Characteristics |Motivational Strategy and Action Plan |Relevant Theory |
Increasing communication – team have to meet as often as possible to discuss issues of concern. Team has to clearly define methods and channels of communication to ensure that the right information is available at the right time, in the right form through the right channel for effective use and feed backs give timely.
Setting the scene for good effective communication within a team must come from the Manager. Having an open, honest, ‘door always open’ policy and someone who gives clear, concise unambiguous information and direction means that everyone gets the same consistent message and is then encouraged to do the same.
Teams are more than just groups of people assembled in the same area, they are a collection of individuals dedicated to a common purpose and with a series of detailed performance targets, working together with complementary skills. Teams of people are encountered in various scenarios, not just in the workplace, but also throughout life, such as sports, associations, charities and voluntary services.
A team without this support will soon start to feel lost in regards to targets, objectives and direction. Issues can arise in so many different forms if a team is left to its own devises. Effective team communication can pacify most of these issues, whether it is failure to meet targets or issues of conflict, by taking the time to actively listen to team members and then working together to find a solution you not only prevent any issues building and eventually becoming a bigger problem, but also stop them affecting team performance and motivation. This will make for a healthy team dynamic and team members that feel they are valued and appreciated within the
Communication is the cornerstone of maintaining a clear understanding between leaders and subordinates. In a team format, communication is vital for everyone to know the plan and approach to get on a path of success. A great speaker has the ability to inspire, organize, and portray optimism. Moreover, the coach has
It is important to agree and commit to a strategy for communicating as a project team. Consider options. Having a communication strategy that people haven’t had an opportunity to agree on, or who aren’t aware of, will mean that communication won’t be effective.
Dyer, W.G., Dyer, W.G., Jr., & Dyer, J.H. (2007). Team building: Proven strategies for improving team performance, 4th edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Communicating in Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In team settings, I generally take the role of team maintenance. Conflict resolving and comforting are the two C’s that are not task related. I believe the role of conflict resolving and comforting is so important because many diverse teams have fault lines that can cause conflict within the team. Last month, I was placed on team to come up with a new idea on how to instruct new hires to position a newly developed product. I found myself acting as the mediator amongst colleagues. During the storming stage, two employees had a shouting match during a brainstorming session. I quickly tried to deescalate the issue by address their concerns with a question that would provide value and clarity to their argument. The debate sparked based on an issue
Mangers who understand different types of communication have the ability to communicate productively and effectively with employees. Although, a manager may try to avoid forwarding bad or negative news to employees, a time will come to deliver unpleasant information. Therefore, using professional and courteous methods can maintain motivation within the workplace.
A theory of team working that details the stages of team development that are typical to any type of team