The benefits of team discussions include improving communication and, therefore, establishing ways of attaining a common goal that everyone is aware of. Without discussions it is too easy for assumptions to be made about what other people’s motivations are, or what somebody may be thinking. All too often, these assumptions are not only wrong, but can be very damaging to team morale and performance.
Team dynamics can only be established if there are open channels of communication where everybody is listened to, and respected. For a team to work well together there has to be trust and recognition of each other’s skills. Although actual performance can make other team members aware of those skills, discussion can reinforce motivation if it is constructive.
The negative aspect of a team discussion is, of course, when it breaks down into an opportunity to gripe and become personal with other team members. Naturally, any concerns or grievances need to be aired so that the team can go away feeling that something has been achieved, rather than disgruntled because they have not been listened to and nothing has been resolved, but even negative aspects can be turned round and have a positive outcome.
It is a useful exercise, therefore, in the early days of your team discussions to lay down some ‘house rules’ so that there is never any misunderstanding about what the objectives of your team discussions are, so that people are aware that they are expected to behave in a particular way. Sometimes this means that one person will be responsible for keeping the discussion on track, so that it doesn’t veer off into a discussion about what you are all up to at the weekend; unless of course your team operates at the weekend!
Team dynamics can only be established if there are open channels of communication where everybody is listened to, and respected. For a team to work well together there has to be trust and recognition of each other’s skills. Although actual performance can make other team members aware of those skills, discussion can reinforce motivation if it is constructive.
The negative aspect of a team discussion is, of course, when it breaks down into an opportunity to gripe and become personal with other team members. Naturally, any concerns or grievances need to be aired so that the team can go away feeling that something has been achieved, rather than disgruntled because they have not been listened to and nothing has been resolved, but even negative aspects can be turned round and have a positive outcome.
It is a useful exercise, therefore, in the early days of your team discussions to lay down some ‘house rules’ so that there is never any misunderstanding about what the objectives of your team discussions are, so that people are aware that they are expected to behave in a particular way. Sometimes this means that one person will be responsible for keeping the discussion on track, so that it doesn’t veer off into a discussion about what you are all up to at the weekend; unless of course your team operates at the weekend!
