Communication is key in any relationship. Whether that relationship is with your spouse, your peers, your children, or your employees, it always comes back to a transfer of information, honesty, and respect.
What separates good teams from great ones isn’t talent or skill, but the ability to work together towards a common goal. As a leader or manager of a group, it’s your responsibility to ensure that everyone tracks toward the same purpose through open lines of communication. Below are three benefits of strengthening communication to keep your team on the same page.
Encourages Collaboration
Sometimes the best work comes out of a collaborative discussion between team members, where ideas can be bounced off of one another until the right one is uncovered. Fostering an environment where members of the team are able to voice their ideas and understand that their ideas will be taken into consideration, will create a stronger, more positive work environment. It’s easy to get sucked down in the day-to-day client work, but be sure to set aside time for creative brainstorms about prospecting strategies or growing the business.
Allows for Proper Motivation
Communicating effectively and transparently with your team allows you to understand their needs and desires. In order to lead effectively, you have to know what motivates those under you. While Gen Xers may be motivated by money and Millennials seek positive affirmation and the feeling of being a valued team member, each person is motivated for different reasons. Schedule one-on-one meetings with each team member and dig deep to understand what drives them. As a manager, this will help you manage each team member effectively, and also provide the appropriate feedback and rewards. For example, some team members would prefer a bonus, while others would prefer additional vacation days. Your team will appreciate the effort you put forth and the transparent line of communication will allow for motivated and loyal team members.
Enhances Problem Solving Possibilities
The most essential benefit of good communication is its ability to resolve issues before they snowball into major problems. Incorporating yourself in the conversation as your team brainstorms solutions helps establish a productive method of problem-solving. However, let your team identify a solution first before you chime in and make a recommendation. It helps to oversee the conversation or brainstorm so you can participate if necessary, but allow your team to do the heavy lifting. This gives your team the opportunity to think strategically on their own and work together to come across the appropriate solution.
Communication is essential for effective teams and creates efficiencies by; motivating employees, encouraging open dialogues, and fostering an environment of collaborative problem-solving. It’s not always easy to engage with your team members, but the rewards are well worth it. If you don’t have a culture of communication among your team, establish one today to ensure for a positive future for your business.
David is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestsellers, The Sandler Rules: 49 Timeless Selling Principles and How to Apply Them and Sandler Success Principles: 11 Insights that will change the way you think and sell. He regularly authors articles for business publications and continues to be involved in the ongoing creation and development of new Sandler training products and programs.
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