161 Putting It Together: Teamwork and Communication

Summary

In this module you learned about the importance of teamwork and communication in business. Below is a summary of the key points that were covered.

Groups and Teams

Teams are groups of individuals with complementary skills who come together to achieve a specific goal. Teams can be manager-led, self-directed, cross-functional, or even virtual.  Companies use teams because they are an effective means of achieving objectives, and they bring increased efficiency to operations.

Team Development

When teams are formed they evolve from individuals into a cohesive unit. The stages of team development are: forming, storming, norming, and performing.

Team Success

What differentiates a successful team from an unsuccessful one? Some of the hallmarks of successful teams are the following: the members  trust one another, the members become “boosters” for one another, members enjoy the team activities, and leadership is shared.

Effective Communication

Effective communications are based on empathy, and they are thoughtful, clear, specific, brief, and timely. Effective communicators are aware that only a portion of their message is verbally conveyed, so they are careful about tone, diction, and body language. Finally, in order to communicate effectively one must be an active and engaged listener.

Appropriate Communication in Business

Knowing how to appropriately communicate in a business setting has been complicated by the introduction and use of mobile technology and social media. In addition, some workplaces have adopted a more casual dress code, making it appear that casual communication methods are appropriate. Understanding when and how each form of communication should be used depends on the sender, receiver, and message involved.

Communication Flow

Communications flow like a river through a variety of channels, both formal and informal. In addition, communication channels are both external and internal to the organization. Each channel has advantages and disadvantages and must be managed in order to ensure that the appropriate message is being conveyed to the appropriate parties.

Barriers to Communication

“Getting one’s message across” can be tricky and challenging due to barriers that impede communication. Among the barriers to effective communication are filtering, selective perspective, information overload, lack of source credibility, emotional disconnects, semantics, gender differences, and poor listening skills.

Synthesis

What did it take for these eight people to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and join hands to form a figure eight? Yes, nerves of steel and a measure of pure insanity. But it also took something else—the very thing you learned about in this module: teamwork and communication. As for these skydivers, the consequences of poor teamwork and faulty communication can be serious and even deadly. Defective parts can wind up in automobiles and airplanes, the wrong medications can be given to patients in a hospital, food can be contaminated . . . all as a result of poor teamwork and communication. Understanding the ways in which people communicate and learning to overcome potential barriers can help you be a more effective communicator and a better team member. Moreover, the skills you’ve learned in this module are not only important in business—they’re useful in skydiving and life.