Developing your High-Performance Self... for a High-Performance Culture!

Communicative

One of the key behavior of a high performing teams is being communicative.

You cannot have teamwork unless you have communicative members. Without communication, you don’t have a team, you have a collection of individuals.

Being your best high performing self as part of a high performing team means keeping each other informed, communicating with stakeholders about key updates, decisions, and listening to understand their thoughts and concerns. It also means being transparent in our communications and promptly speaking up to express issues or concerns.

Communication is key to keeping a team moving in the same direction, and I learned a big lesson about how I communicate with my team which will always stay with me and I’m happy to share with you.

The very first time I had team reporting to me, I used to filter all the communications I received and decide whether my team needed to see it or not. I truly believed I was doing them a favor. Well, not really! ☹ When my team gave me feedback that I did not communicate enough and that they often felt in the dark I realized I needed to change and improve my communications. So ever since then, (which I should just add is a very long time ago) I’ve always used one of these categories in the subject of my emails: ACT Pls (when an email requires action); REVIEW (you need to be aware or review); INFO (it is up to you if you want to read it). This has worked well for me, and it leaves the decision to my team as to whether they read my email (or not).

Ask yourself: what can you do to improve your communications?

Here’re a few tips to help all of us be our best high performing self and improve our team communications:

• Be available – make it easy for teammates to communicate with you.

• Be candid – open communication fosters trust.

• Be quick – quick to keep others informed, quick to respond to others’ requests. Be quick to raise issues and concerns and invite others to do the same with you.

• Be inclusive – remember, people are up on things they’re in on.

• Follow up – important communication in writing.

  This week’s quote comes from John C. Maxwell and really reflects my learnings experience, and the importance of communication in a team.

  

  Stay tuned for more behaviors coming soon!