Leadership Coaches – Sorting Out the Noise From Your Team
Effective team communication involves uncovering and discussing issues that have a detrimental effect on team work. Building a solid team foundation relies on effective workplace communication that allows everyone to participate openly, confidently and without the worry of repercussions. Are you “sorting out the noise” in your teams?
“Sorting out the noise” is a phrase that describes that undercurrent that exist in work team, departments or leadership groups. It is the noise that takes the team off course and has potential to derail a teams performance.
When we work with teams and they start to open up we let the ‘noise roll out’. For a couple of reasons, if you want to adjust/change behavior you will need to get the issues put it on the table in a respectful format. By getting it on the table, you have a chance of moving forward, of having people feeling understood and not judged, and also understanding how their own action impact others. We get a look at what are the patterns within the frustration which may be causing the team to stall out. This isn’t easy for team members; they must feel safe in sharing their thoughts. If not, another approach needs to be used to ‘identify the noise’.
Sorting the noise, takes effort, trust and sometimes a special knack. The end result you’re striving for in sorting the noise out is identifying patterns, and adjusting your game plan to achieve what is getting missed. Whether it is lack of focus, dismissing behaviors, staff feeling in the dark, or loss of team energy. Bottom line, the noise is costing you money, happiness of your team, and side tracking potential growth opportunities.
The next step is key….it is the adjustment and the clarity of focus. The adjustment may be what individuals need to do a bit different. The adjustment needs to be consistent and a movement forward. The clarity may be on focus, intended outcome or it may be a result – but you’ll want to be very clear on what you want to achieve.
Sorting the noise of a team isn’t easy, it sometimes takes a good listener to really hear the voices, the pain, and hear the possibilities.
Do you know the noise of the team? Whether you are the leader or not…the noise is an energy drain that is impacting you.
About the Author: Jodi Wiff, partner Lighthouse Leadership, created the mantra of “Elegant Courage” – honesty with grace and elegance during good or bad times. Her 28 years as a leader distinguished her special and unique problem solving abilities. Her innovativeness and creativity changed the company culture from ugliness – sniping and lack of hope – to a warm, engaging, respectful environment. She believes the employee and customers are special and important to a business and that leaders must create the environment which “feels” hopeful and stirs the inner calling of employees to make a difference. She creates that kind of profound difference.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
photo©iStockphoto.com/MichaelDeLeon
