subject: Can We Talk? [print this page] Communication is an essential part of business, compiling thoughts and consideration from a team that must work together is necessary in order to succeed. Whether youre in a meeting or solving situations on your own, your success comes down to your ability to communicate with yourself and with those around you. Likewise, it is vital that those around you are also able to communicate with you. Without communication, problems can remain unsolved, slowing your progress down, and eventually leading to disaster.
Dont ignore the issue
The biggest problem is the inability to realize that there is a problem in the first place. This issue often arises because we dont want to see it. An impending crisis or even a problem presently hindering your efforts can be overlooked by those who either dont want to deal with the issue (possibly because it will require more work or a change of plans) or simply because they dont want to face the truth.
The first thing to keep in mind is that you should never ignore a problem. Unlike the scary childhood monster under the bed, problems do not disappear if you look away or ignore them. Contrarily, they tend to snowball and become worse when ignored.
Problems should be faced and addressed in order to get rid of them. This is the first step in communication. Be sure that you always address what you observe, even if it is only a consideration or a thought. Unless you speak up, your team will not know what you are thinking.
Talk about it
The next step is to communicate your observations. It is likely that others may try to ignore the problem, so it is up to you to help them see the issue and the importance of addressing it. Never rely on someone else to speak up in your stead, because you may end up waiting until the problem is worse.
This communication also benefits your team because it is with a group effort that brainstorming and solutions take place. Be sure that you effectively communicate with your team, or you may struggle with issues on your own, resulting in overworking yourself and even leaving other teammates wandering around in the dark as they continue to make the problem worse.
Solving situations together
Once youve addressed the problem, it is only the beginning of the battle. Next comes the problem-solving. This is composed of three parts, which pertains to three questions: where did it come from, what do we do about it, and how to prevent it from happening again in the future.
The first two stages can interchange, depending on the situation. At times, it may be more important to solve the problem, and then discover how it came to be. But at the same time, understanding where the problem came from can be beneficial to the solution. Regardless, youll want to communicate to your team how the problem came to be. This often requires discussion between you and your team, primarily because it may have come from mistakes that are unseen or unrevealed.
Be sure that you are ready to face your mistakes and acknowledge them, because unless you do, the problem cannot be solved. Then there is the issue of solving the problem. How it came to be has been uncovered, so we can clearly see how it needs to addressed. This requires brainstorming and solution input from everyone. Any idea is better than no ideas, so be sure that you communicate what you are thinking with your teammates.
Preventative communication
Once the problem is solved, that doesnt mean that it wont return. Remember that communication is the first step in preventing problems. Many issues arise because others werent aware that there was an issue in the first place. Be sure that everyone is aware of where the issue arose, and how to prevent it in future events. This portion will keep everyone moving in the right direction, rather than running down a road full of speed bumps.
Because ignoring a problem can be easier than dealing with it (but far more costly), it is important that you encourage your team not to ignore and procrastinate. These two can definitely hinder not only your success, but the advancement of your team. Always stay open and in constant contact with your teammates to ensure clear communication and the prevention of future problems.
Success relies on your ability to face your situation, get others to acknowledge it, and solve the problem. With proper communication skills, you can influence your team to become a far more powerful group that works together to become focused, face problems, and become successful together.
