Research data clearly shows: how we say something is more important than what we say. Studies from the Human Dynamics Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrate that the way people communicate within teams is the most significant predictor of success, regardless of the industry or team.
What's more, these communication patterns are just as significant as the combined factors of intelligence, personality, competence, and the content of the conversation.
It may sound contradictory that how we communicate is more important than what we communicate. Yet, MIT's research across various sectors and teams shows that the key to success lies not in the content of team discussions, but in the way we communicate with each other.
The original article The New Science of Building Great Teams, published in the Harvard Business Review, outlines the three success factors for effective communication. These factors are observable, quantifiable, and measurable. And, perhaps most importantly: they are trainable!
1. Energy – how much exchange is there?
Energy refers to the number of verbal and non-verbal exchanges between team members. An exchange consists of a remark and a form of confirmation in response. Face-to-face communication proves to be the most valuable method. In the PCM toolbox, you'll find Communication Channels, the fundamental building block for communication and making contact, tailored to different personal preferences. Your preferred way of communicating varies from person to person.
2. Engagement – balance in speaking and listening
Engagement reveals the distribution of energy among team members. Teams make better decisions when this energy is evenly distributed, meaning everyone contributes to discussions and listens in roughly equal measure.
3. Broaden your perspective
Looking beyond one's own team refers to communication between team members and members of other teams. Successful teams look beyond their own team more often than less successful teams.
What else influences team success?
- Individual talent and intellectual capacity contribute far less to a team's success than previously believed.
- The least valuable forms of communication are messaging apps, SMS, and email.
- The best leaders are visible and engage in active, concise, and inspiring conversations. They have the ability to easily approach others, listen more than they speak, and show high engagement with their conversation partners.
How to Build Your Team's Success
Process Communication Model is a unique tool for self-management and understanding others. You learn how to observe behavior and recognize and utilize each other's needs and strengths. And you apply this daily by speaking each other's language and motivating effectively. This way, you build better relationships and successful teams.
Want to know what PCM can mean for your team? Contact us for a customized proposal or check the agenda and sign up for one of the training sessions.
This blog post previously appeared on Next-Element.com
