Do you talk to other people? Yes? Great.
Do you talk to them enough? Team communication experiences hiccups as people do not talk to each other enough.
Information circulation fails as one does not say something to another. You can forget. But that makes you a lousy manager.
Make sure everyone has all the information they need for their work. On top of that, communication is key. Without communication expectations create frustration. Teamwork is only pretended, and what's worse, no one dares to communicate.
Learn to talk. You will be surprised how much you can achieve by talking only.
Communication is everything
You can’t work without communication. You always discuss what, who, when, how, and why.
Communication is work. Work is communication.
As you always communicate with someone or something, you never work in a silo. The outcome depends on how well you communicate. Poor communication = poor results. On top of that, poor communication = poor relationships.
By talking to your coworkers, you set expectations and pace. Successful leaders give their teams purpose and a picture of the future: That is where we want to get. Then, they discuss with them how they get there.
The purpose glues teams together and highlights desired values. You cannot achieve that without communication. Leaders frequently talk to their teams. They know they need to keep the relationship running.
Communication is the fuel of relationships.
Communication creates trust
How do you build trust? By having a sterling character, being credible, helpful, and kind to others? People often say that what you do matters more than what you say. It is both.
Let us look at these scenarios and see what feelings they can trigger:
- Say and do = trust
- Say and don’t do = disappointment
- Don’t say and do = positive surprise
- Don’t say and don’t do = ignorance
Communication is a pillar of trust. You trust my word. You rely on what I say. That is the kind of relationship you seek in your private and professional life.
You trust that if something happens, you will take responsibility. If things are not working well, you either deal with it or apologize. There is a lot hidden in communication.
Can you tell when someone is lying? How come you don’t believe him? It can be felt through nonverbal or verbal communication. You decide whom you want to trust based on how they speak.
Trust simply can't happen without communication.
Communication is a continuity
When you talk to others, you send and receive information. That is valuable for teamwork and continuity. Talking to your coworkers always sets expectations and carries values.
Leaders are in the middle of teams, and cannot handle them without talking to them. Communication is transparency. Communication leads to goals and working together.
Imagine you have a team and some people leave on holiday. What happens? Talking to others is crucial to their agenda because if they don’t, it’s a mess. But when they talk about what needs to be done when they are not around, work continues.
Great teamwork is about the ability to be replaceable and work efficiently with handovers.
Like your family values, a team tribe carries values. Communication helps maintain continuity.
Communication influences job satisfaction
How satisfied are you with your job? Do you feel like your boss talks to you enough? Getting left out of communication may cause you to feel isolated and ultimately unhappy.
You need to know what is happening and why.
Many people are not loyal to their teams as they are not involved. “They decide.” “They deal with it.” Someone above has the power, and you feel like you have no control. That’s bad.
As a leader, make sure that people always feel in charge.
Let them participate in solutions. Discuss alternatives. Give them a voice. You should never ignore their questions or silence their concerns. Communication is a two-way process. Sadly, too many managers forget about that.
If you have no control over where you are heading, you are likely to choose your own way. It is a survival instinct.
Communication is key to development
Reading this opens up a dialogue. I hope you look at communication analytically. See what superpowers you have in your hands. Communication plays a key role in your development.
You are used to hearing what is right and what is bad. It is how you learn. One solution is correct; the other is wrong. What you need to understand is why.
Successful leaders always give you “why”. Without why you don’t understand things. They don’t make any sense to you. Let’s say your manager tells you:
You have to learn SQL.
Why?
From now on, they will use it. We have to follow. That’s it.
How do you feel about learning SQL? Positively? I don’t think so. As someone said, you have to learn it without any other justification.
When you talk to your team, think about what you are saying and why. Seamless collaboration does not just happen. It is the result of communication.
So what now?
Well, that is easy. Talk.
Talk to your teams. Explain, discuss, and take into account the opinions of others. Listen and moderate conversations. Communication creates a sense of belonging and supports trust and continuity.
Encourage others to talk. We never talk enough in teams.