Top 5 ways to improve project team communication

Posted by Anna on May 16th, 2019

There is no denying that effective communication is one of the most important ingredients when it comes to any project. If your team does not communicate efficiently with one and other, you are never going to be able to deliver in terms of quality, deadline, and budget. If you feel that effective communication is a problem for your project team, read on to discover some ways to improve this.

Think about the way your office is laid out

Is your office space halting communication and, therefore, productivity? It can seem like a lot of effort to rearrange your office space, especially on a project-by-project basis, but it can be extremely beneficial. You need to give your team the mental and physical space to collaborate and create effectively. Did you know that by using office space more effectively and investing in ergonomic furniture you could boost productivity by as much as 64 per cent?

Focus on team building

If you want to improve team relations, you need to focus on team building. There are many team-building activities, which can really help for long-term projects whereby your team is going to be interacting daily for the foreseeable future. There are many outdoor activities and work retreats that you can consider. Not only this, but you should encourage cross-departmental education, focus on company culture, identify and reach out to shy employees, and celebrate your employees’ achievements.

Take inventory of your own communication skills

If you want to improve the communication of your project team, you need to look closer to home as well. If you want to serve as a model leader, you need to continue to develop and improve. You can do this by taking one of the available APM project management courses. Other ways to improve your communication skills include taking suggestions in earnest and explaining why when you cannot use the suggestions. You should also never personalise criticism, make communication two-way, inform and inspire, follow up in writing, and be mindful of how you are communicating. It is important to make eye contact and have a relaxed facial expression and stance when talking.

Motivate your team

As a project manager, you need to ensure your team is motivated. If members are not motivated by the project, they aren’t going to want to communicate effectively with others because, quite simply, they don’t care enough to do so. To motivate your team members, not only should you identify a common goal, but you need to show each member how their role is pivotal to the success of the project.

Invest in tools to boost communication

Last but not least, there are many tools available today to help teams boost their communication, and you should make the most of these. Team communication apps come highly recommended. You should also consider online project management tools, which will enhance collaboration so that everyone can work more effectively together. 

So there you have it: five of the best ways to enhance communication between your team members. Follow the tips mentioned above and you cannot go wrong.