Effective Communication for High-Performing Teams by Merrcy Moore, VP of Portfolio Success

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”  
-George Bernard Shaw 

We’ve all been there – knowing you had the conversation, set the expectation, made the appointment, or shared the notes, but the person (or calendar) staring blankly back at you says differently. Small gaps in communication may only pose a minor inconvenience, but larger gaps can lead to organizational challenges with major implications. 

Gaps in communication often start with assumptions – assuming your team knows it’s urgent, assuming your colleague is working on it, assuming your manager saw your note. When we make assumptions, we form expectations that likely won’t be met which can harm morale and ultimately business. 

Avoid assumptions and misunderstandings by creating a culture of clear and consistent communication – here's four tips to help you get started:   

1. Communicate Frequently: One of the golden rules of our industry is to overcommunicate as it ensures clear expectations for everyone involved. You can never go wrong with this one. 

2. Communicate in Bursts: Rather than constant communication, aim for bursts of purposeful communication followed by time away to work independently. This way each time you come back together, it’s with true updates and progress to share and expand upon. 

3. Communicate to Collaborate: When we make a point to share what we’re working on with our teams, we can better identify areas of crossover and potential for collaboration. Collaborative teams lead to better, more effective work (and time saved!). 

4. Communicate to Align: When everyone understands the “why,” it brings purpose to every task. By clearly keeping teams focused on shared goals, we can align to something greater than our individual roles and work together with the same purpose in mind. This boosts teamwork and efficiency – all keys to successful teams. 

Try out these tips and see if they lead to stronger work within your team. Remember, good communication creates a great workplace!   

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