Sure you talk—but when was the last time you communicated?
I read something the other day that said that, despite physical distancing, we’re actually connected now more than ever. Interesting, I thought. Connected doesn’t seem like necessarily the right word—I do feel weirdly exposed? If being connected means being bombarded by incessant waves of information, data, articles, chats, online events, marketing, and even articles like this, then yes. I am very connected. Yet somehow, connected is not how I feel.
The same goes for communication. I can email, tweet, or message anyone I like, but are we communicating or just talking? Which one are you doing with your teams?
Now more than ever, and especially because you can fire off an email, Slack, or text at any time, it’s important to focus on the real connectedness of communication.
When I manage teams, I ask the following questions on a regular basis:
How do you like to give and receive feedback (face-to-face, email, quick message, etc.)?
What is your favorite part of your job? Least favorite?
If you could improve one process on our team, which one would it be?
What motivates you to do your best work?
What is the biggest roadblock or struggle you’re facing right now?
Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
You might think that there’s no time for true connection in crisis mode, but communication solves problems.
I prefer giving and receiving feedback in writing so I can take my time and consider it, but historically, most of my teammates have preferred face-to-face feedback. Even remotely, a video chat would serve them much better (remember, it’s not just about how you want to communicate, but how your recipient best receives communication).
Asking my teammates their favorite parts of their jobs helps me identify areas that I can delegate and knowing their least favorite helps me with career pathing.
Asking for feedback about how to improve processes or what roadblocks people are facing provides an instant and clear opportunity to tackle problems. Most of the time, the simple act of naming a roadblock exposes a solution.
And I always want to know what motivates individuals to do their best work because it’s not the same for everyone.
Knowing exactly what motivates your teammates makes your organization more effective, agile, and successful.
Especially in times like these, it’s important to truly connect and communicate with your teams. Need a reminder? Check out this infographic. Need help? Work with me.