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8 Ways To Help Your Team Foster Good Communication 

Modern workplaces are more productive and have more positive environments when teams know how to communicate effectively. However, knowing how to do that doesn’t always come naturally. The following guidelines can help anyone looking to improve their team ‘s communication skills in any industry.

1. Discuss Conversation Distractions

People are often distracted in conversations, which leads to poor communication. It’s a problem that spans professional industries, so team leaders must teach practical ways to give someone their attention. Techniques could include leaving your phone in your pocket or starting essential conversations in a private room.

Distractions also affect how people communicate in remote or hybrid positions. Every team member should focus on their conversation partner during a virtual conference call and turn off all nearby screens, like phones and tablets. Closing the door to their home office or stepping outside for more privacy can also help. It’s equally important to practise online etiquette as much as in-person manners.

2. Implement Writing Software

Professionals in every industry often convey written information to audiences. They can use grammar and spell-checking software to utilise this type of communication more effectively. Work emails, branded social media posts, newsletters and other forms of written communication will appear more professional and polished while being easier to understand.

Research also shows people who achieved director-level positions in the first decade of their careers made 2.5 times fewer grammar mistakes than others who didn’t get the same promotions. Software like Grammarly or Hemmingway can save the day to ensure professional communications remain professional for any audience.

3. Streamline Virtual Conversations

Communicating with multiple people is more challenging if conversations happen on numerous platforms. Streamlining team discussions is an excellent way to foster good communication. Team leaders or anyone in a management position can choose one platform for everyone to work through, such as:

  • Connecteam
  • Pumble
  • SnapComms

Ask for team member feedback after everyone’s had a week or two to get used to the integrated messaging and calendar systems. Your team can adjust communication styles as needed or switch to another platform that addresses everyone’s needs more precisely.

This step may involve investing in paid software, but it could revolutionise how your team works together. Whether they contribute to your industry from home or in a traditional office, everyone can use the single platform to start projects, reflect on conversations and track progress toward their goals.

4. Teach Active Listening Skills

Listening to someone and hearing what they’re saying are two different things. Hearing someone well requires practise with active listening skills. Team leaders can present these skills during upcoming meetings so every person knows how to listen and receive information more effectively.

Active listening includes techniques like maintaining eye contact, avoiding interruptions and considering where the other person is coming from. Every step makes the conversational partner trust that what they say means something. It’s one reason why active listening makes clients want to return because they feel seen and valued. Co-workers will feel the same when everyone in an in-person or virtual workplace practises these skills.

5. Share Preferred Communication Methods

People receive information differently. One person may feel more at ease when discussing a work matter over the phone, while another may want most communications recorded over emails for future reflection.

Encourage your co-workers to share their preferred communication methods in an upcoming meeting. Talking about specific resources like emails, instant messages or phone calls could improve everyone’s conversations overnight. They’ll know how to effectively reach out to each person on the team, resulting in improved teamwork.

There’s another incentive for leaders to start this helpful conversation. When employees communicate more effectively, productivity increases by 25% across the team. Productive teams meet deadlines, impress clients and generate more revenue for their company. That’s worth a few minutes of conversation and consideration about communication methods.

6. Eliminate Self-Doubt Together

People may not say things concisely because they’re nervous or doubt their confidence. The result is more extended conversations that ultimately make people miss information. Leaders can practise self-confidence exercises to help everyone get their point across, even when discussing a challenge or interpersonal problem.

William Shakespeare once said, “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we might win by fearing to attempt.” Teams will become stronger by facing their fears to continue their personal growth. Making space for encouragement will eliminate the self-doubt potentially holding some co-workers back from good communication.

7. Practise Positive Body Language

Most people know body language is the first impression of every conversation, but they may not remember that every day. Everyone can learn and practise positive body language to begin discussions positively. Encourage your team members to demonstrate positive body language by doing things like:

  • Maintaining eye contact
  • Avoiding crossed arms or legs
  • Trying not to fidget

Expressing nerves or defensiveness may not be a person’s intention, but their body language could broadcast it anyway. When workers know how to monitor their body language, future conversations will be much easier for people in-person or over a video conference.

8. Establish Two-Way Feedback

Giving feedback in the workplace isn’t always easy. People may not say what they mean or think if they don’t feel like their team leaders will approve of the conversation. It’s up to people in leadership positions to encourage two-way feedback so everyone can say what’s on their mind in a professional manner.

Managers or team leaders should emphasise that opportunities to give positive or negative feedback will never end in retribution. The point is to learn from challenges, tackle them and maintain long-term solutions to avoid future complications. When people are more comfortable giving feedback, they’ll use their newfound skill to let other co-workers know when their communication needs refining.

Encourage Better Team Communication

Anyone can use these tips to help their team foster good communication. They improve conversations with co-workers or an audience in any industry because everyone needs these skills daily. Tips like collaborating on the same platform, watching your body language and creating safe spaces for conversations make it easier for people to understand each other.

Author: Rose Morrison – Managing Editor, Renovated

Photo credit: Mart Production

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