Team communication is often defined as the information and opinions that are shared in a group consisting of more than three members. It hugely differs from normal communication with respect to the difficulty of conveying the same message across to everyone in the group. It is a very crucial feature for a team to function effectively and dynamically.

A healthy team communication can help eliminate many misunderstandings and frustrations which develop within the team. It is thus essential to learn on improving team communications to address misunderstanding and to improve team efficiency.

Team communication as we discussed organises the team and orients them towards a healthy working style. An organised team which possess effective communication methods tends to be highly efficient and goal oriented. On contrary, a team that does not contain effective communication skills lacks direction and encounters chaos in its functioning.

A good communication system also improves the confidence levels among the members and facilitates easy feedback mechanisms. Most of all effective team communication keeps the team members on track and enables them to work towards the same goal. The below is a consolidation of ten tips that can help improve team communication and maximise team efficiency.

Tip #1: Understand your team members

It is essential that you know about each and every one in your team on an extended note. The skills and talents of every team member need to be understood before you start on the communication process. Take time to understand details like their strengths, weakness and skills. These kinds of details are even more important if you are a team leader. Knowing in detail about your team members will help you communicate better.

Tip #2: Address people by name

It is always important that you know the names of all members of the team, however big or small it is. Communicating with people by addressing their names gives a personal touch and helps build confidence and rapport. You can follow a method of noting down names if the team size is huge. Make sure that you get the pronunciation right and clarify if you are not sure it. Sharpening your memory skills to remember each of them individually will earn your more loyalty from them.

Tip #3: Talk with confidence

Communicate your message in a team with confidence. It will help your team members to listen to you attentively. A confident and well conveyed message is bound to get your work completed effectively.

Tip #4: Listen attentively

It is a must that you understand and respond to any clarifications or concerns of your team members. Communication in a team needs to be two-way and this will help eliminate any loopholes or misunderstandings in the team.

Tip #5: Convey your message through mixed forms

It is important that you mix multiple forms of communication to send across the message properly. A strong and strict oral message needs to be combined with a high tone and modulated pitch along with a formal body language and posture. Such kind of non verbal communication methods will convey your message better than just communicating with words.

Tip #6: Keep it short and brief

It is necessary that your message is short so as to gain the undivided attention of your audience. Never indulge in long explanatory kind of conversations which deviate from the point to be conveyed. Make sure that you do not waste your team member’s time and try to keep your messages short and brief.

Tip #7: Make sure to break the complications

The message that needs to be conveyed has to be said in a simple manner. Thus make sure that you do not include complicated vocabulary and jargons. Such kind of complications might even confuse them sending the wrong message.

Tip #8: Keep the message same across the team

Most of the times, the biggest challenge in a team communication is the difficulty in keeping the message same across all the members. Hence try to communicate at the same time rather than in separate sessions. Make sure through a two-way session that everyone is in the same page so as to avoid any miscommunication.

Tip #9: Combine oral and written communication

It is often a best practice that you combine oral and written communication in all messages or information communicated. Such a methodology not only provides documentary evidence but also acts a future reference for members who missed out on the communication.

Tip #10: Introduce feedback mechanism

Feedback is an important part of a team communication. Make sure that you take the opinions and views of the team member involved. A proper feedback mechanism will ensure that your team responds as required to your communication and that everyone had received the same message.