Team Communication

Team Communication

Successful teams are the ones that open the lines of communication. Schools and companies encourage team work to resolve issues and complete tasks in a timely fashion. In different situations in life; where individuals must come together as a team. Whether in a classroom or work environment; Team members must learn to converse with others and help each other, to successfully accomplish team goals.

A major obstacle for team members is the lack of basic communication. Without communication team success is highly unlikely. Interaction is important, as it shows how team members work together to accomplish tasks and perform effectively. Communication is especially important to coordinate and cooperate with other team members to achieve collective goals. "Being an effective team player calls for frequent and extensive communication" (Hughes, 2003, p. 22). Once individuals recognize the importance of communication, they become aware of how successful communication can be. "Skillful communicators think like mediators, focused on mutually desirable outcomes as opposed to winning at all costs. Relationships are important to them, and they recognize the need to tailor their comments to the listener in order to be heard" (McCarthy, 2007, p. 6). Members should actively communicate and encourage each member to participate. Every member of the team should also be allowed to state their ideas, give suggestions and express their opinions. This allows every one to engage in open discussion. Valuing each others differences and viewpoints allows every one to feel part of the team. In turn, members believe they are a valuable member and can contribute to the team's task. "Members contribute to the success of the team by using their unique skills and talents" (Bragg, 1999, Ð'¶ 6). Once ideas are presented and individual skills are identified, the team can establish each member's role and individual tasks. Team members can work on tasks and communicated periodically to ensure everyone is doing their part. The "communication processes are high-performing teams that have extensive communication mechanisms. They communicate regularly with each other either in person, via telephone, or through e-mail and keep those unable to attend meetings informed of the group's progress. They constantly update their planning calendar and communicate about adjustments, as they are needed" (University of Phoenix). When utilizing all available resources to establish communication lines it allows team members to stay in touch, as every one progresses towards accomplishing their individual and team tasks. Constantly staying in touch and encouraging one another also develops trust. Trust among team members enables the team to work in cohesiveness. "Trust doesn't just happen. Teams must foster it continually, building relational strength through frequent and thoughtful communication. Even when relationships are characterized by trust, egos may still feel bruised when ideas face tough criticism. However, when trust is present, people set that feeling aside for a time. They trust one another's intentions and are more interested in being great as a team than being right as individuals. And because they value the relationship and know the team relies on them, they connect off line to clarify intentions and perceptions and make amends if necessary" (McCarthy, 2007, p. 6). "Teams that perform poorly may have unclear or shifting goals and priorities; poor communication; a lack of trust and commitment; a lack of cooperation; overpowering individualism; and inadequate skills" (Bragg, 1999, Ð'¶ 11).

Sometimes, in every team, including effective teams, conflict may arise along the way of accomplishing a group task. When conflict does occur on a team or between members, it can lead to lack of motivation, lost of respect, and less productivity. "But conflict among team members also breeds dissatisfaction, ill feelings and reduced cooperation" (Amason, 1996, Ð'¶ 1). In many cases "most teams fall apart, not from lack of resources or other 'rational' needs, but from the friction that result from bruised feelings" (Anderson, 1999, Ð'¶ 1). While feelings may be damaged and can be a deterrent to accomplishing a team task, team members must communicate effectively and take their team member's feelings into consideration. While conflict on teams lacking communication skills it can be considered an awful situation. These teams might not be able to resolve conflicts that arise and may not be able to accomplish their task on time, or not even finish them at all. For cohesive teams that actively communicate, they allow each other to express their feelings and ideas openly without negativity.