Open Communication in Your Team

Open communication is key in every team no matter what type of organization you are running. Having bad communication in your team could be more than disastrous. 
What is open communication?
Open communication is when everyone on the team has access to information happening at the company. 

How does it help with the company culture?
This could establish trust among everyone on the team as there is open access to everyone in the same. It also establishes a sense of belonging and motivation for the team.

Every team should have an open communication flow that entails sharing:

• Ideas
• Challenges
• Problems, and of course;
• Successes

Steps To Encouraging Open Communication In Your Team
The concept behind open communication is simply to enable the members of your team to freely speak and provide suggestions in areas that the leader may be wrong as a feedback system. However, there are diverse ways to effectively promote open communication.
While the majority of it comes down to nothing else but behavior, it is still shocking to know that some leaders unintentionally act in ways that go against any form of open communication.
Nonetheless, open communication can be encouraged by:

• Paying Attention

While this sounds obvious already, however, should it be gotten wrongly, it discourages all forms of open communication.
Most leaders have this open-door policy yet, there is a huge difference between people walking inside such an office and having an open door. The fact is that there are little signs that show that you are paying close attention.
They include:

1. Try eliminating distractions by putting away your devices
2. Endeavor to make eye contact
3. Postpone such a discussion if you are not in the best of moods
4. Try practicing active listening, etc.

When you pay attention, it shows that you are interested in encouraging an open flow of communication.

• Ask for suggestions

As a leader, always have it in mind that there is absolutely nothing bad in asking your team for their concepts and ideas on how to boost the way that you work. In short, this can even encourage them to be outspoken.
Whenever a person in your team has any suggestions, you should try to accept it in areas where it is needed. This creates a feedback system that is needed so we are not operating in a fantasy land that only exists in our fantasies. This is why every team needs a realist. 
Although it is crazy to make use of every idea that your team brings forward, showing your team the part of you that is willing to transform your approach based on their ideas is a strong reinforcement of free and open communication.
Also, should someone come up with a suggestion that you know will not work out, do not shut them down but explain politely why it might not work out.

• Give credit where necessary

You must have heard of stories that involve bosses taking the credit for works done by their team. The thing is that you do not have to go that path.
If a person in your team has a great concept and it is fully implemented successfully, you should give them their credit publicly. This will allow them to have more passion for their work and even bring more ground-breaking ideas.
To Wrap It Up
​Communication within team members cannot be overemphasized. You can always encourage your team members to be open when you easily accept their feedback. You do not just have to accept it, you should also act on it where necessary. 

https://www.amanet.org/articles/open-communication-vital-to-business-success/
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/effective-communication-feedback-3176.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287266866_Leadership_feedback_and_the_open_communication_gap
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2014/10/03/4-steps-for-building-a-culture-of-open-communication/#7e56d92561d7