Effective communication with your team is essential if you want your business to thrive. If you want to get things done, you need to make sure that everyone knows what’s expected of them and when they can expect it to be completed by. If you’re not leading your team in the same direction, miscommunication can result in late or incomplete work, or worse yet, an unsatisfied customer or employer. You may have the best intentions, but you won’t realize them if you aren’t communicating effectively with your team members. Below are some tips that I’ve myself over the years to manage video production teams, creative and marketing departments and my own agency’s marketing team. I hope you find it useful!
1) Have One-on-One Meetings
One of the best ways to communicate with a team member is having a one on one meeting. In one-on-one meetings, you can focus on the needs and goals of that person and help them succeed in their role. Plus, your team member will leave feeling heard and respected.
It’s important to have these types of conversations at least once per month with each team member and if your team is too big to meet with individually, try adding a monthly appreciation lunch where you sit down and get to know everyone on a more personal level.
When you’re in a one on one meeting, remember to make it more than just discussing tasks and deadlines. Use it as an opportunity to learn about your team members and get a better understanding of their lives outside of work. It can help you better support them, which in turn will help build trust and appreciation with everyone on your team.
Aside from personal (out of work) questions, some work-related questions to ask on a one on one meeting are:
- How do you feel about the project or task we are working on this month?
- Do you think that’s the most effective way to go about it or do you recommend something else?
- Tell me exactly your plan for this month (having them repeat back to you what they will work on, makes it more probable that they will actually complete what they said they would do)
- If you can, can you share with me or let me know when you complete “X” task, so that I can let my partner know to proceed with “X” task? (This will put a bit of extra pressure, since other people are depending on him to complete “X” task.)
- Before the end of next month please send me a meeting request, so that we can sit down and review, because I forget to setup meetings sometimes. But do not hesitate to contact me at any time before the month if you need my help or support on anything.
2) Speak Clearly and Compassionately
Communication is one of the most important parts of any relationship. Whether you are a boss or a team member, communication can help build trust and confidence between two people.
The first tip for communicating with your team more effectively is to speak clearly and compassionately. When we communicate in this way, it helps us be understood by those on the receiving end of our message. This will also make them feel like they are respected and appreciated.
The second tip for communicating with your team more effectively is to listen and ask less questions.
Listening is extremely important in most situations because it allows you to learn so that you can better understand others and make better questions.
Remember that the other individual is also a person with feelings, just like you. He or she has problems, a family, personal and professional goals, just like you. Listen, so you can help them achieve at least their professional goals, so that in turn, they can help you and your business with more enthusiasm.
3) Do What You Say You’re Going To Do
If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. If you promise a certain deadline, then meet it so your team sees you are person of your word. Keeping your word is the most important way to build trust with your team members and show them that they can count on you. Likewise, if you asked your team to complete something by a certain deadline, then hold them accountable. If they missed the deadline, first ask why, as you may find that the problem could’ve been you (you didn’t provide enough information, time to complete, or resources) but if it wasn’t your fault, then hold them accountable by asking them to find a solution to make up for it.
4) Be Patient with Others
Being a leader means being patient. When you are the head of an organization, people are going to come to you with questions and sometimes they might not have all of the information that they need. This is why it’s important to be patient and listen patiently when somebody approaches you.
Remember that not everyone is at the same level as you.
Plus if they are not clear about your company’s mission or how things work at your business, then it will take them a bit of time to get a good grasp of how you like things being done.
Conclusion
Try your best to understand what your team’s needs are and see if you can address them in some way. If they need more training, give them more training. If they want more pay or other benefits, then make time to consider it and make those changes if they deserve it. Ask questions, don’t guess.
If you cannot do anything for them because of budget restraints, let them know that too so that they know the situation instead of wondering why nothing is happening.
When you are patient with others, have better communication and show empathy for their problems, it shows that you care about your employees which makes for a much better working environment for everybody involved.
