Team Communication

Team Communication can be an effective model to use to improve productivity in the workplace, school, and in personal life, through the avenue of feedback from a diversity of organizations and individuals.

Team Communication is very essential in having an effective team. What is a team? “A team is a formal workgroup consisting of people who work together intensely to achieve a common group goal (Schneider, 2001, p.310).” During the time of a team’s development stages, a team has been known to encounter five different stages. The first stage would be the forming stage, in which members will come together to understand behaviors, their role as a member of the team, and giving support to each other as the team progresses towards the development. In this stage, team members are communicating and getting to know their differences and similarities.

After forming, a team would then experience the storming stage. Each individual of the

Team is now weighing out whose skills and work style will bring the most effective product. In storming, because of the variety of opinions towards a deliverable approach, there will of course be some conflict, because there is still the question as to who and how communication will be established. One must be careful not to favor sides, but give encouragement as communication and commitment develops. If conflict cannot be settled effectively, a person out side of the team, such as a facilitator, may be used to help achieve the common goal. Open and positive communication is an essential part of the storming stage, and must be understood that some conflict is good and helps improve communication among team members, motivating them to commit to the goal at hand.

In stage three of the team development, members begin to express their powers, weaknesses, and other constructive criticism, openly and at a more comfortable level.

This is called norming. The members realize the behaviors and learn new methods to accomplish the goal of working together. Members realize that all have many different procedures of handling a goal, but realize there must be trust and a sense of unity to become an effective team.

Performing is the stage where team members have come to understand the differences, and have a clear picture of the task at hand, utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of each other to reach or exceed the goal. Members are being supportive of each other and the team continues to progress, upholding a more ethical behavior and heading for success.

Once a team has successfully decided on the completion of a task, it is in the adjourning stage. Team members at this stage look over the project accomplished and decide on the next project at hand. Members at this stage may receive recognitions, or this may be a time of negative criticism to be taken constructively, which can lead to a growth of positive interpersonal behavior.

Interpersonal behavior can provide individual success, which can lead to team success. The development of social skills is important in communicating as a team. "Employers view effective communication as critical to an individual's success in today's competitive workplace. In addition to traditional writing and speaking proficiency, business communication courses should also stress the less emphasized bun necessary skills of listening, phone usage, meeting management, collaboration