Sammy Courtright

Always be Communicating. This mantra seems to be one that has become more important than ever since so many of us are now working from home. During this time, many organizations have not only had to maintain a high-functioning level of team communication but have had to find a way to build new teams through communication as well. 
Proper communication is a must to maintain and build a successful team at work. Here are five best practices we’ve successfully implemented to amplify our communication skills and boost our collaboration. We hope that your organization might be able to benefit from them as well. 

1. Put Inclusive Language into Use
It's important to always use inclusive language that's not gender or group-specific when talking to your team. It's one of the fastest ways to alienate the people you're addressing.
Ensure that you're not assuming the gender of people and that you're using the preferred pronouns of people. Additionally, do not assume people's race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Learning to use inclusive language regularly is a process and takes practice. People may make mistakes along the way, but remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity and a chance to become a better communicator.

2. Get on the Same Page with Prioritization and Expectations
If you’re a manager, it’s better to give more information to your employees so they know exactly what your expectations and priorities are. When your team doesn’t get enough information, it puts them in a position we’ve all been in before: Being told to do something, then realizing you don’t know exactly what was meant… and being afraid to ask.
If you’re the one tasked with the project, don’t be afraid to ask your manager questions, or even set up 10 minutes with them to share your plan for tackling the project. Even getting clear on things like document preference, format, or how you’re going to divide up tasks among team members could help you get the job done right the first time.

3. Make Discussions in Team Meetings Purposeful Make 
There’s nothing worse in team meetings than awkward silences, especially when there’s a lot to get done. And, with everyone being physically removed from each other, Zoom fatigue may have people just itching to get out of the meeting. 
To remedy this and make meetings engaging, purposeful and productive, collect written questions or topic suggestions ahead of your meetings rather than asking if anyone has questions during meetings. By going this route, everything is already laid out, and the topics people care about can be addressed.

4. If You Cancel the Meeting, Don’t Ghost When You Do It
It’s okay to cancel unneeded meetings—it saves everyone time. But instead of just taking something off the schedule, be sure you’re also communicating why it’s being canceled.
If you and your team members are just too busy to have the meeting when it was scheduled, don’t cancel it, but reschedule it for a time that’s calmer. If you have a 1:1 with a direct report - NEVER just cancel it without sharing a reason. It sends the message that you don’t care about them or their career growth.

5.  Customize Your Modes of Communication
Text, email, Slack, or phone? Which mode of communication are you more likely to respond to? The way you communicate with your team doesn’t need to be the same for everyone. Ask your team members which route they prefer, since some people do much better when they see things in writing and others do better with verbal communication. Understanding communication preferences can save time and lead to more productivity.