5 Communication Tips for a Healthy Team

I am happy to say that I serve on a healthy team.  Some of our staff have actually had to acclimate to the fact that a team can be this healthy and work can actually be this much fun.  One of the keys to remaining healthy has been learning to effectively communicate among the team.

Here are 5 principles that I believe have helped us develop and maintain healthy team communication.  Under each one, I have listed some practical examples of how this is done among our team as a church staff.    

1. LEARN THE TEAM MEMBERS
Different people require different communication styles. Some people prefer print; others prefer verbal. Learn the personality and preferences of your team members to make sure everyone understands what you are saying.

Practical: We utilize Myers Briggs, StrengthsFinders, and various other assessment tools to determine our personalities, strengths passions, interests and communication or ministry styles. I adjust my communication based on the needs of my team, and since individual team members know this information about each other, they communicate more effectively with one another. In addition, we communicate about each area of ministry frequently through email and in person so there is shared vision and understanding about each person’s responsibility within the church.

2. MIX WORK & PLEASURE
Have fun together throughout the workday and get away from the office for extended times together as a team.

Practical: Laughter is highly encouraged within our day.  We encourage open door environments and we get out of our offices to visit with one another frequently throughout the day.  In meeting, we spend a large quantity of time in what may seem to others to be “non-productive” fellowship, but this time together produces the energy and synergy of our team and helps us remain healthy.  Also, a fun atmosphere helps grease the wheels of uncomfortable communication, helps smooth over misunderstandings and helps team members enjoy coming to work and working together.  Boring and tense environments can easily drain life and motivation out of your team.

3. ALLOW CONFRONTATION & CONFLICT
An organization needs to learn how to manage conflict from becoming disruptive, but disagreements often lead to breakthroughs and keep the team healthy. 

Practical: Our staff feels freedom to challenge programs and activities of the entire church, even outside their area of responsibility, without fear of repercussion.  While there is a fine line between being helpful and simply being critical, we try to keep the vision as the main objective and our plans to accomplish it fluid enough for constructive critique.  Our vision is set and determines our ultimate direction as a church, but supporting that vision, we have no sacred areas (other than Christ) in our organization.  Having a mature and healthy working relationship, where team members know and respect each other’s unique gifting and contribution to the team, is the key to making conflict an asset rather than a liability to the organization.

4. SHARE EACH OTHER'S BURDENS
It is easy to become territorial about a specific ministry or area of concentration.  Understanding each other’s concerns encourages healthy energy to solve issues together as a team and jointly work towards reaching the entire organization’s objectives. 

Practical: Our staff realizes that at certain times of the year one ministry may be stretched more than another.  During our annual Operation Serve community outreach, for example, every staff member participates to ensure the project is completed well.  At all times, the staff is encouraged to ask for help when they are over-burdened. 

5. BE RESPONSIVE TO EACH OTHER
The team should be equally skilled at listening as they are with speaking. Timely responses are encouraged.  If people are left waiting for answers it delays progress, but more importantly, it breeds fear as team members await an unknown response.

Practical: One huge part of our culture is responding in a timely manner to staff, volunteers and people that attend the church.  In addition to email, the staff is encouraged to utilize Facebook, Twitter, text messages and personal blogs to communicate with the church.  Our staff meets weekly as a complete staff bi-weekly and spends a day or day and a half together quarterly.  In our staff meetings, each ministry area shares specifics about their area of concentration to make sure everyone is on the same page going forward.

Building and keeping a healthy team requires effective communication.  That process may look different to each organization, but the key is to monitor the flow of information to ensure everyone is on the same page and moving in the same direction. 

Furthermore, a healthy team consistently works to improve communication.  We do not presume to have all the answers.  Do you serve on a healthy team?  What is your team doing to maintain effective communication?

4 Comments »

1. Thx for this practical post!

   Comment by SRivera - Jan 11, 2010 @ 09:28 AM

2. You have just defined a “High Trust” Team.  Great insights Ron!

   Comment by DMakela - Jan 19, 2010 @ 08:15 PM

3. Sounds like a very healthy and productive team. Great advice. Congratulations.

   Comment by Joe Cavnaugh - Jan 20, 2010 @ 12:31 AM

4. Thanks for the comments here and through Twitter, Facebook and email.  I appreciate the connections I’ve had from this post.  Let’s stay connected. 

   Ron

   Comment by Ron Edmondson - Jan 20, 2010 @ 09:38 PM

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