Team Building & Communication

Communication is the building blocks of team building.

Communication is "a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding," notes Washington state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Most of the everyday tasks people accomplish, such as building a romantic relationship, passing laws and running a business, are built on communication. Team building, the process in which members from a common group intentionally create a team identity and vision, is not possible without effective communication.

Function

Communication provides direction and clear vision and promotes unity among the members of the team. Building a team is like building a house. It requires thought-out plans, a blueprint of how to accomplish those plans and group of individuals that committed to work to see the plans through. Communication keeps the team aware and informed of progress and change along the way. It provides a guide for the team of how to accomplish the common goal.

Types

The two types of communication involved with team building are verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication is a message sent using spoken words. Nonverbal communication is a message sent without the use of words such as facial expression, body language and tone of voice. Verbal and nonverbal communication must be in agreement for team building communication to be effective.

Implementation

Activities work effectively to teach team building and communication. Team-building activities provide a task to accomplish, such as putting a puzzle together that requires the team to use communication skills to accomplish the task. Feedback also implements communication to build a team. Feedback can be accomplished using focus groups, surveys and providing a question-and-answer opportunity.

Misconceptions

Not all communication is effective. Using words or holding meetings does not mean you are effectively building your team. For communication to be effective, it must send messages in such a way that the team as a whole understands and receives the messages accurately. Once the messages are accurately understood, they must be effectively implemented for the communication to be considered effective. Team building and communication takes time, effort and consistency for a leader and the team to discover the best communication approach.

Considerations

Without effective communication in team building, confusion, frustration and lack of direction will result. If you are experiencing negative feedback or results from your team building experience, re-evaluate your approach. Listen to the feedback from the team and implement an action plan to correct the issues addressed.

References

• Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Communication
• Learning Center: How to Build a Team
• Team Technology: Team Building
• Team Building Information: Team Building Communication

Resources

• Free Management Library: Team Building