No one debates the idea that the process a team follows to complete a task or project has a considerable effect on the outcome. Experienced leaders presume that process exerts a tremendous influence on the quality of what gets produced. A superior process produces superior results.
In a virtual world, the process with the biggest impact on what team members create together is communication design.
When, how, and through what mediums team members interact and stay updated most shapes an organization. Organizations and teams stuck in the past, relying on outdated communication processes suffer the consequences of lower commitment, shared purpose, and engagement by team members.
As the world moves toward more virtual connection and less face-to-face interaction, communication design becomes even more essential for leaders to master. Simply matching specific messages to particular mediums (virtual calls, print, emails, conference calls,, etc.) is an important first step in promoting a more cohesive workplace. Add to that the timing and frequency of communication, who is included and why, and whether the communication is one-way or two-way constitutes some of the basics.
The best organizations and leaders are highly mindful of what key messages need to be understood and shared by everyone and how to most effectively communicate that content.
Best practices to push information and meaning up and down in an organization are increasingly well known. Yet many leaders keep their heads in the sand and forget how shared understanding profoundly shapes the culture of any organization.
Every leader should be working to better understand the best communication design processes. Effective teamwork begins and ends with effective communication. Communication is, and has always been, the essential language of leadership. How good is your team and organization in communicating what is important?
