Team communication represents all interactions and exchanges of information that occur in a team.

In line with that, good team communication is the foundation of every successful team. After all, teams need to collaborate on a regular basis to be successful — and good collaboration is built on good communication.

And yet, a study by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. shows that as much as 60% of companies don’t have an official long-term strategy for internal communication. As a result, companies lose as much as $62.4 million per year on average, just on inadequate communication.

In this article, to help inspire you to avoid the negative effects of poor communication, we’ll talk about the importance of good team communication — and how you can establish it in your team.

Why is good team communication important?

Good team communication equals efficient team communication — i.e. the ability to convey a comprehensible message in the shortest amount of time. 

1. Good team communication improves productivity

The teams that create long-term strategies for efficient team communication, for instance, executive coaching for leaders, get to enjoy a range of benefits that tend to improve productivity. They finish their collaborative work faster, and with higher quality.

Productivity increases because good communication helps teams:

• avoid misunderstandings;
• better understand their roles in a project;
• avoid double work that occurs when more people unknowingly work on the same task;
• work more efficiently — because they manage all the information they need to work with quality.

2. Good team communication makes solving problems easier

The teams who share problems on a regular basis get to enjoy a more diverse set of opinions and solutions.

Such active brainstorming sessions that involve more people can even lead to more creative and more efficient approaches to solving old problems.

3. Good team communication helps manage conflicts effectively

The teams who communicate frequently are able to resolve or even avoid conflicts.

Teammates who are used to talking about problems, challenges, and differences in opinions are also used to listening to each other.

They are used to having a voice, feeling heard, and paying an equal amount of respect to others.

In line with that, such teammates are more likely to be open-minded and accepting of opinions different from their own.

4. Good team communication builds a positive work environment

Teammates who communicate frequently get to know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, workflows, and thought processes.

They learn how to collaborate, talk, listen, and empathize with each other.

They learn how to foster trust and camaraderie.

As a result, they are able to work together faster and better, overall. Tools such as enterprise HR software can further enhance this dynamic by offering features that facilitate seamless communication, recognition of individual contributions, and alignment of team goals. With a centralized HR platform to streamline workflows and provide valuable insights, these tools strengthen collaboration and improve overall team efficiency.

How do you efficiently communicate in a team?

To build efficient team communication and enjoy its benefits, you need to implement the right communication strategies. Here are 3 that bring immediate results.

Define/follow clear communication goals

The first step towards efficient team communication involves clear communication goals. The team manager defines the goals and the team follows them.

Now, specific communication goals may differ from team to team.

But, to make these goals clear and thus easy to follow, you’ll need to make them S.M.A.R.T. — specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound:

• If goals are Specific, the team understands what they are pursuing, and why;
• If goals are Measurable, the team is able to track progress;
• If goals are Attainable, the team pursues goals they have the power to reach;
• If goals are Relevant, the team pursues an important cause;
• If goals are Time-bound, the team has a clear target date.

Once the team understands the communication goals they are striving for, it becomes easier to direct the right efforts towards the anticipated results.

Decide how you’ll facilitate communication

No matter whether you work in hybrid, in-office, or remote teams, it’s crucial you consider how you’ll facilitate communication.

What communication channels will you use?

For example, you can use:

• a team chat app for instant messaging — such as Pumble;
• a team communication app to keep everyone aligned, like the EmployeAapp, which ensures seamless, real-time updates with features such as push notifications, resource libraries, and feedback channels, fostering a connected workplace culture in any setting.
• a project management tool for communicating project details — such as ProofHub and Trello;
• a company wiki software for communicating company policies — such as Confluence.

What meetings will you organize?

For example, you can organize:

• daily stand-up meetings to report on project progress;
• weekly 1-on1 feedback meetings between managers and individual teammates;
• quarterly all-hands meetings to discuss the team’s accomplishments in the previous period.

What ground rules for communication will you follow?

For example, you can prescribe:

• a “10-minute” rule for responding to direct messages;
• clear agendas and time limits for meetings.

Follow the seven Cs of effective communication

To improve team communication, all teammates need to improve their communication patterns.

To improve their communication patterns, all teammates need to follow the seven Cs of effective communication:

1. Clarity

Clarity helps avoid misunderstandings, miscommunication, and false assumptions.

2. Conciseness

Conciseness helps you keep people’s attention while communicating. It helps you convey complete information in fewer words.

3. Correctness

Correctness involves correct grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and language use. It gives your words the credibility they deserve.

4. Concreteness

Concreteness helps people understand what you want to convey. It usually involves the appropriate amount of details, facts, and figures.

5. Confidence

Confidence helps you command respect among the people you are communicating with. It increases the chance people will regard your message as important.

6. Coherence

Coherence helps you convey your message in a logical and consistent manner.

7. Courteousness

Courteousness helps you form a connection with the person you are communicating with. It involves being direct, open, honest, and friendly.

Conclusion

Good communication is important for any team striving for success.

So, define and follow clear communication goals. Decide how you’ll facilitate communication. Follow the seven Cs of effective communication.

As a result, your team will get to enjoy higher productivity, solve problems easier, manage conflicts effectively, and build a positive work environment.

Marija Kojic is a researcher and writer specialized in team communication and collaboration. She enjoys helping people discover meaningful and effective ways to communicate and collaborate smarter.