If I had to pick one issue that is the most prevalent in my work with teams, it is – without doubt – communication. Experience with our Team Health Check shows that this is the hardest thing for many team leaders to get right, despite their best intentions.
Here are some of the reasons why communication often misses the mark:
1. Lack of awareness about the impact of our communication style. Unless you ask them, you are not likely to know how your style affects your team’s motivation and effectiveness.
Solution: Consider asking your team for feedback. An effective way to do this quickly and confidentially is by using the Team Health Check. Our clients are finding they get some surprising responses when their team ranks statements such as these:
(There are 20 questions in total, covering the full range of teamwork criteria.)
2. We communicate with our team the way we like to be communicated to. For example, if you appreciate frank and straightforward information from others, you are likely to be direct in the way you talk to your team.
Solution: Recognise that what works for you will not work for everybody.
3. Not understanding team members’ communication preferences. Closely related to the previous point, there is great value in having an insight into the different communication styles on your team.
Solution: Use a tool to diagnose the individual preferences. The Harrison Assessment system measures the following communication traits: Frank, Diplomatic, Blunt, Evasive, Avoids Communication, Wants Frankness and Tolerates Bluntness..
4. Lacking a sufficient range of communication styles to be able to meet the needs of team. When you know what’s missing, it’s easy to fill the gaps with knowledge and practice.
Solution: Coaching is available to help you use your communication strengths to develop more effective ways to communicate with the full range of people you will encounter in business. For more information on our coaching systems, please contact us.
The final – and perhaps the most important – point is this:
To read more about the Team Health Check, click here.