Effective Team Member Communication

Team communication is vital to business.

Effective communication between team members keeps business running smoothly. Good communication involves speaking, listening and non-verbal cues. Management plays an important role in making sure team members communicate well with each other, with other teams and with higher authorities.

Characteristics

Teams that communicate effectively demonstrate clear and regular communication, and communicate with all people outside of the team who may be influenced by their decisions. Effective team communication is respectful, assertive and productive.

Benefits

Teams that communicate well are better at making decisions, help the business run smoothly by informing everyone of their decisions and are able to connect ideas via productive dialogue. Effective communication also helps resolve conflict between team members and between project teams.

Managerial Role

Mangers can help their teams communicate effectively by providing each team member with a clear role at the beginning of the project.

Managers should encourage team members to "piggyback," or expand on another team member's ideas, according to "Business Communication and Technologies in a Changing World."

Negative language and interruptions should be impermissible.

Considerations

Small teams tend to work better together, according to "Business Communication: Process and Product."

Feedback

Team members should receive constructive, respectful feedback at each stage of the project.

References

• "Program Management for Improved Business Results"; Dragan Z. Milosevic, Russ Martinelli and James M. Waddell; 2007
• "Business Communication: Process and Product"; Mary Ellen Guffey, Patricia Rogin and Kathleen Rhodes; 2010
• "Business Communication and Technologies in a Changing World"; Rhonda L. Rasmussen, Aliisa Mylonas and Hilary Beck; 2009