The art of communication: How teams overcome toxic patterns
Do you have good communication in your company, in your team? No toxic friction builds up. You always and everywhere have a trusting “with each other” instead of a hostile, open or hidden “against each other”. Then you and your team are able to see the “big picture”, recognize new paths and shape them together. Then you don’t need to read any further.
There are many reasons for such dysfunctional communication. It may be because the basics of successful communication are not being practiced. However, there may also be structural or emotional, underlying reasons, e.g. a fear of taking responsibility, anger, frustration due to experiences from the company’s or team’s past, personal disappointments and many more.
The 5 steps to better team communication
Recognizing – and resolving – underlying patterns
Once you have learned and practiced the basics of communication, the next step in your development is to become aware of the underlying, often automated patterns that influence your daily communication. It’s about recognizing the communication traps you practice every day:
- How authentic is your communication? Is there a difference between “walk” (acting) and “talk” (talking)? And why does this sabotage good communication? And what can you do instead?
- How dominant is the more dominant “assertiveness” compared to the more open, exploratory “learning” in your communication? And why? How can you deal with this? How do you find the right balance for you and the specific situation?
- Who plays what role in communication in your team? Who is more of a doer, who is a supporter? Who is in the opposition? And who is on the sidelines? And why? How can you make these roles transparent? How do you recognize dysfunctional patterns and how (e.g. the “toxic saboteur”) and how do you deal with them?
- What beliefs and taboos influence your communication? What else influences your trust, your learning and your actions? How can you reveal and change these beliefs and taboos?
So now it’s more about the identity of your team, your organization.
Actively shaping communication – from the status of politeness to flow
The next and final step in developing functional communication in your team or company is about consciously shaping communication. It is about working on taboos and beliefs, setting up good structures for formal and informal communication, developing these further and setting an example for the organization with a great deal of authenticity, patience and discipline.
This process takes time, calm and patience. And is usually more than worth it.
Our invitation
Communication is the central foundation of your success as a manager, your teams and your company.
We are happy to support you. Perhaps all you need is a little food for thought or training. Perhaps we can also guide you and accompany you on your way to more calm, more confidence, more security, better dialog and great results.
Give me a call, tell me about your individual issue and let’s think about what measures will improve your communication.
You can make a non-binding appointment here .