Communication Skills

You may think that your communication skills come naturally from your daily conversations with family and friends. This may be true, but I believe it is important for those communication skills to be built upon if you want to be successful as a team member. Some people may be very good at having one-on-one conversations. However, if there is a group involved, they may not know how to effectively communicate to each member individually and as a part of a team.  

The most useful concepts to remember when communicating in a group are:

• Focus
• Be open-minded
• Be encouraging
• Share your ideas
• Let others speak
• Ask questions for clarification
• Use clear, simple language
• Non-verbal signals

Everyone participates differently as a team member, which is why these points are so important. Some people are more willing to contribute to the assigned task than others. Other individuals like to be asked for their opinion because that is where their comfort level is. Non-verbal communication skills are crucial for successful teamwork. Eye contact with the speaker of the group can make them feel more comfortable. Nodding is a sign that you are listening and understanding what the group member is saying.

My former social work skills textbook states, “most people are rather poor listeners, tending to pay more attention to their own thoughts and feelings than to the messages others are trying to convey” (Cournoyer, 2011, p.191).

To successfully communicate with your team you must concentrate on what each member is saying. I believe very strongly in this idea. It can be frustrating as a group member to watch the other members daydreaming or using cell phones while you are contributing to the assigned task. Obviously these group members will not be able to participate and give a response because they were distracted.

I believe active listening is a big part of effective communication. If you do not completely understand an idea that a group member has shared, you should ask questions. Asking questions helps clarify and gives you and the rest of the group more understanding of the speakers idea.

Enhancing your communication skills is beneficial for teamwork, as well as your daily life. Do you feel that you need to work on your communication skills?

References:

Cournoyer, B. R. (2011). The Social Work Skills Workbook. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Horejsi, C. R. & Sheafor, B. W. (2008). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.