(Newswire.net — July 24, 2019) — The question team leaders and organization always grapple with is improving communication among its members across different levels and projects. Communication ensures projects are done as expected, and any challenges are quickly identified, and crisis prevented. The problem, though, is achieving clear and consistent information. Here are some tips on how to improve teamwork and communication.
How to Improve Teamwork and Communication
When it comes to workplace environment, you’re going to want employees to feel communication is efficient, and understand the importance of teamwork. Having a positive work environment will keep employee attendance and engagement high. Below are some ways to help communication and teamwork in the office.
1. Create an Inclusive Team Spirit
The first step is creating a cohesive mood that builds up the sense of togetherness in the team, and everyone feels invested in the project. Groups should create a sense of belonging where members get to know each other well beyond casual greetings. Such an environment makes it easy for employees to feel inspired and share information freely. You can achieve this by using team building sessions as well as informal environments and coffee breaks.
2. Have Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Unclear roles and responsibilities is a significant barrier to communication since members do not know what is expected of them or who is accountable for what. Because of this, some may not know who to reach out to concerning different aspects of the project. Define the roles clearly and the tasks and responsibilities of everyone in the group.
3. Create a Culture of Openness and Accessibility
The team leader sets the tone for the group in terms of teamwork and communication. To this regard, you must foster an open-door approach. When members know you are readily accessible, they can be open about any clarifications they need and offer suggestions to challenges the team may be facing. The team members also reciprocate such an approach among themselves.
4. Promote Two-way Feedback
Feedback cannot just be flowing from down up. Work to ensure you have two-way feedback. When tasks are done, offer clear feedback on whether it was done excellently or how any improvements can be made. Comments from you should be clear, intentional, and comprehensive so that team members understand what they have to do, what is lacking, and what the team should be aiming to achieve.
5. Use Time and Attendance Software to Increase Engagement
Time and attendance have been areas most organizations had grappled with long before the days when teams were distributed across different spheres. Thankfully, with the emergence of time and attendance software, the old and new challenges have been solved. The software creates a new form of direct communication channel. This allows team members and leaders to keep track of their attendance, as well as objectives and have a centralized place to access information and provide feedback.
6. Provide Training in Communication
Most of the time, communication is difficult because the team lacks an understanding of how to make it work. Providing training on communication areas your team is struggling in will boost the interactions among members and also the effectiveness of communication channels in the team. Usually, the impact begins to be felt after the training as members utilize what they have learned, correcting their mistakes, and exploring options they had not considered before.
Conclusion
Communication plays an important role in building effective employee engagement and teamwork, which is necessary to realize the goals and objectives of the team. When it comes to how to improve teamwork and communication, adopting several steps is essential. Such measures include fostering team spirit, adequate training in communication, encouraging openness, and developing two-way feedback. Members should also have clear roles and responsibilities.