Communication within a team takes place through a variety of channels and also in a variety of formal and informal approaches.
Channels in communication today includes face to face, video conferencing, telephone conferencing. Something really important to keep in mind is that depending on the channel certain emotions are lost or changes depending on the channel.
When we undertake face to face communication – which can be phone based on video based, we gather our message through both the the body language we see, words chosen and the language used. Many studies point to the fact that body language makes up almost 55% of the message.
When we move to phone based conversations, we lose the visual cues and place more emphasis on the words used and also the tone of voice we hear. In the phone context our tone plays a significant role - how quickly we speak, the pace and the pitch. These are things many of us are not aware of in terms of modifying, yet this is where as listeners we turn to get our cues. This week think about what your pace and pitch is saying in a phone based conversation. Does it mirror the intent you have?
In the world of email and text we lose all cues created by what we can see and hear. This creates challenges when we try to send messages with highly emotional content which just aren't translated, or are misinterpreted. It's always best to deliver emotionally charged messages (positive and negative) face to face, by video or if necessary by phone.
In addition to the different ways we communicate, there are a variety of formal and informal communication channels. which ones do your team members use. Consider these:
Formal - team meetings, huddles, one on ones
Informal - Water cooler talk, check ins
Different types of fora create different types of communication opportunities.
Communication is a foundational skill set for any team today. Here are several questions for you to think about and be in dialogue around as a team:
How developed are your team's communication skills?
What areas need attention?
What gets in the way of effective communication?
What formal and informal communication channels exist?
Have a great Wednesday,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
Channels in communication today includes face to face, video conferencing, telephone conferencing. Something really important to keep in mind is that depending on the channel certain emotions are lost or changes depending on the channel.
When we undertake face to face communication – which can be phone based on video based, we gather our message through both the the body language we see, words chosen and the language used. Many studies point to the fact that body language makes up almost 55% of the message.
When we move to phone based conversations, we lose the visual cues and place more emphasis on the words used and also the tone of voice we hear. In the phone context our tone plays a significant role - how quickly we speak, the pace and the pitch. These are things many of us are not aware of in terms of modifying, yet this is where as listeners we turn to get our cues. This week think about what your pace and pitch is saying in a phone based conversation. Does it mirror the intent you have?
In the world of email and text we lose all cues created by what we can see and hear. This creates challenges when we try to send messages with highly emotional content which just aren't translated, or are misinterpreted. It's always best to deliver emotionally charged messages (positive and negative) face to face, by video or if necessary by phone.
In addition to the different ways we communicate, there are a variety of formal and informal communication channels. which ones do your team members use. Consider these:
Formal - team meetings, huddles, one on ones
Informal - Water cooler talk, check ins
Different types of fora create different types of communication opportunities.
Communication is a foundational skill set for any team today. Here are several questions for you to think about and be in dialogue around as a team:
How developed are your team's communication skills?
What areas need attention?
What gets in the way of effective communication?
What formal and informal communication channels exist?
Have a great Wednesday,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
RSS Feed
