Characteristics of Good Team Communications At a recent workshop of professionals from various organizations we brainstormed the question "what are

the characteristics of good team communication". We also explored "bad team communication". The results are as follows: Characteristics of good team communication:

accountability engaging trust clear and concise honesty truthfulness

timely opinion appropriate body language transparency clarity two way useful good listening skills common terminology respectful passionate while in control appropriate environment leadership safety

Characteristics of bad team communication:

all about me vs. all about you defensiveness confusing too much jargon lack of accountability opinionated too much information concealing pointless too much ego coming through no rules of engagement (as in meetings) argumentative

Characteristics of Effective Groups

Every single group is unique. So it's only natural for group process, structure, and culture to vary from group to group as a function of the group's task, stage of development, and membership. Still, there are certain barometers of group effectiveness that seem to apply almost universally and that correlate well with group performance.

What effective groups do

The group periodically takes time to reassess its performance, purpose, and process. There's no tyranny of the minority (a pushy or dominating subgroup or individual). Group members stay involved, interested, and listen to one other. Most decisions are reached through genuine consensus or concordance. The group task is well understood and, when action is taken, group members are clear about their roles and assignments. Members aren't afraid to propose creative ideas or to express feelings." The emotional atmosphere feels comfortable and tension-free. All group members participate in discussions, which relate to the group task. The group is okay with disagreement, and criticism or conflict is constructive and expressed in frank, respectful ways. It's clear who the group facilitator is, but she or he doesn't dominate the group.

What ineffective groups do

The group never discusses its own process or performance. The atmosphere reflects apathy, boredom, or high tension.

 Actions and decisions are unclear and occur before the real issues have been discussed and resolved. A few people dominate discussions, while others sit silent. From what's being said, it's hard to figure out the group task or objective. Group members don't listen to each other, so people often repeat themselves. Conversations after meetings reveal that people were holding back their real feelings. Disagreements get swept under the rug, as if they are threatening or counterproductive. An individual or small subgroup is so aggressive the group often accedes to its wishes. Any criticism produces tension or embarrassment in the group.

Communication
It is through communication that members of a group learn to understand one another and to influence, or be influenced by, each other. Yet communication is not just a matter of expressing ideas clearly. It is often suffused with unintended effects, fears and dislikes, and unconscious motives. Often the non-verbal part of communication is the most eloquent. A great deal is revealed about what a person is really thinking and feeling by their facial expression, posture, and gestures. The content of communication is important too. In every subject area there is a specialised vocabulary which a newcomer may find off-putting. A clique within the group may sustain a private joke which intentionally excludes the rest. For any communication to take place, speaking must be complemented by listening. Students may often, through preoccupation with their own thoughts or scorn for another's opinions, fail to hear what is being said. Ground rules in which each speaker in turn has to summarise what the previous one said can encourage more purposeful listening.