What You Can Do Today To Become A Better Team Communicator
I’m often asked, “What can I do differently to improve my communication skills in the workplace?” Let’s speak realistically — for a change — about what you can do today to be a better team communicator. Well, just flip the teamwork coin over and adopt these positive viewpoints to promote open lines of communication in teamwork:
1. MAKE NO ONE THE FALL GUY OR GAL. Solve problems instead of trying to fix people or affix blame.
2. KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO HEAR NEW SOLUTIONS TO OLD PROBLEMS. Calm your mind and really listen to the opinions of those around you.
3. MODERATION. Look for the middle ground when you’re feeling too riled up emotionally. Refuse to go to extremes — don’t become a fear-driven or anger-driven griper and whiner.
4. FAIRNESS. Don’t expect others to behave in ways that aren’t demonstrated in your own walk of life. Example: How can you fairly expect others to be on time when you are perpetually late?
5. KNOW THE TWO COMMUNICATOR TYPES TO WHOM YOU ARE SPEAKING. If you can’t list three key differences between Empathizer-type and Instigator-type communicators, then you are not licensed to drive on the two-way communication highway.
6. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We all need to be validated through even small recognitions that our efforts are far more appreciated than our goofs.
7. THINK BEFORE SPEAKING. You can drain your customer’s or co-worker’s bank accounts with a single episode or “out-of-mouth experience” that leaves psychic bodies strewn all around.
8. PUT AN END TO WORRYING. Disrupt your worry? Yes, the Talk To Me tools will help you quickly do away with unproductive worrying, which causes silos in the workplace to be built like mad and the resentment flu to spread.
9. KEEP LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. Talking openly is frequently uncomfortable because we are often in the midst of the unknown, seeking to find out why what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked and why we still persist in doing it.
WHAT CREATES A STRONG TEAM?
A strong team is created anew each day by using clear goals and open and honest communication, while looking for ways to acclaim instead of blame.
WHO IS COMMUNICATIONS PSYCHOLOGIST DENNIS E. O’GRADY, PSY.D.?
Dr. Dennis O’Grady is a Dayton region corporate trainer, keynote speaker, relationship communication coach. Dennis is the developer of the innovative person- and results-driven Talk to Me© effective leadership and teamwork communication system. For 30 years, Dr. O’Grady has focused on improving effective communication, constructive team relationships, and change management. His latest book, Talk to Me: Communication Moves To Get Along with Anyone, is available at www.drogrady.com or at Amazon.
Here’s how to mess up teamwork and fail to get along with anyone:
1. ALWAYS MAKE SOMEONE ELSE THE FALL GUY OR GAL
2. FALL INTO MENTAL RUTS AND TALK STALL-OUTS
3. EXTREMISM
4. KEEP A CHOKE HOLD ON THE STATUS QUO
5. COMPARE APPLES TO ORANGES
6. USE UNPROVOKED CRITICISM
7. ANGUISH AND WORRY
8. CUT OFF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN TICKED OFF
Comment by Dr. Dennis O'Grady — July 26, 2007 @ 6:45 am
TEAM ATTITUDE: A female human resources manager who is an Instigator communicator subtype “Leader” had this to say about what positive teamwork means to her:
Thank you for asking for my input:
1. Strong team: positive attitude, cooperative spirit, willingness to learn and to listen, sharing a common goal, desire to reach a result
2. Disrupts a team: hidden agendas, set opinions that can’t be swayed based on someone’s feedback, overbearing/intimidating team members
3. One thing that makes teamwork die: hidden agendas or where an “individuals” goal drives their thought process and decisions
4. One thing that makes teamwork fly: cooperative and positive attitude
Dr. O’Grady, I hope this is what you were looking for. I didn’t make it too complex …
Comment by Dr. Dennis O'Grady — July 26, 2007 @ 8:18 am
TEAM ENLIGHTENED: A leading university seasoned leader who is an Instigator communicator “Leader” subtype had this to say about what makes or breaks healthy teamwork.
1. A strong team?
Let me also respond off the top of my head in terms of my experience, Dennis. Strong teams need a unifying vision, quality leadership that attends to both the task and maintenance aspects of the group, a prescribed method of decision making, norms of respect-valuing of input-and diversity/dissent, clear roles for group members, and adequate supportive resources to accomplish their aims.
2. Disrupts a smart team?
It depends how smart the team is. Many teams get disrupted by not attending to each of the factors that create a strong team (above). Other teams get sidetracked by conflicting expectations by the hierarchy in which the team is embedded creating chaos in the group, some teams have difficulty coming together and buying in to a vision or direction, others struggle over leadership, some have difficulty maintaining adequate supplies and stable membership, and intrusion from those outside the group can also create complications.
3. What one thing makes teamwork die? It is obviously more than one thing but while personality issues are important, usually systemic problems such as teams with multiple agendas set up personality clashes. Often teams in conflict avoid each other which typically makes the conflict worse.
4. What one thing helps teamwork fly? If I’m restricted to one thing, I would say enlightened leadership that has an awareness of all the important team ingredients and works to establish a healthy team culture.
Comment by Dr. Dennis O'Grady — July 26, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Lack of commmuication is money flying out the door.
Comment by Mike — July 26, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Thanks, Dennis, those are all good, mind refreshing thots…dik
Comment by Dick — July 26, 2007 @ 11:54 am
“Poor communication equals money flying out the door!” is a little crass. How about “good people” fly out the door, or “missed opportunities” fly out the door. Of course, all are true.
Comment by Don — July 26, 2007 @ 3:32 pm