Team Coomunications

In the world of team dynamics there are several factors that ensure that the team will run smoothly and one of the most important being team communications. Communications within a team are essential for completing any project. Team communication is the exchange of information between members of a specific group or team, and it is essential in the everyday operations of companies, corporations, and governments throughout the world. This research paper will educate the reader on when, where, how, and why team communications are an important part of team dynamics.

Communication is the most important of all factors within in the everyday operation of the team. Within the team, there must be a clear communications path with set guidelines that are understood by all members. In order to establish these guidelines all members of the team should have scheduled meetings to discuss these guidelines and how best to maintain them. Scheduled team meetings should be held on a regular basis to discuss everything that could possibly impede the productivity of the team. "Since the dynamics of being a team can only take place when all of the members are together, your team is basically only as good as its meetings!" (Bens, M.Ed) Without scheduled team meetings, some members of the team may be denied the ability to state important points that may have been overlooked by others in the team. Scheduled meetings are the one time that all members are given the ability to communicate with each other and discuss conflicts or other issues that effect the team.

According to Kenneth Crow (DRM Associates) during these meetings all team members should use the following:

1. Willingness to talk and share information and effectively presenting your point of view.

2. Active listening.

3. Understanding.

By utilizing these three steps it should greatly enhance the team's ability to understand one another and avoid problems associated from miscommunication within the team.

Having effective team communications can only happen if there is an effective team leader. The team leader must have a strong enough personality to calm any conflicts that should arise but also be diplomatic enough not to anger the members of the team with the outcome of the issue. The team leader must also ensure that meetings progress in a fashion that is conducive to the work at hand. Meetings should have an agenda and guidelines and in order to have effective meetings they should be adhered too. There are exceptions to