Inclusive Communication
One of three behaviors highlighted in our model of transformational teamwork, inclusive communication refers to the ability to listen deeply and consider outside perspectives. Teams skilled in inclusive communication are able to draw out all voices in the room. They question their own ideas and admit their limitations. They effectively manage conflict, ensuring fairness and avoiding emotionally-charged personal attacks.
What inclusive communication does:
boosts creativity
drives better decisions
fosters psychological safety and connection
Trouble signs:
overpowering voices, notable imbalance in contributions, or back-channel conversations
decisions are too easily made
teammates are quick to align and slow to disagree with one another
Listen to understand
There’s a critical difference between listening to respond and listening to understand. Those listening to respond filter a speaker’s message through the lens of their own perspective, paying only enough attention to offer a response. Those listening to understand put their own needs and perspectives aside. They ask the speaker clarifying questions and avoid offering their own opinions or jumping into problem solving mode until they’re absolutely certain they understand the speaker’s message. This more active approach to listening builds trust and encourages more open communication going forward. Learn more
Encourage disagreement
There’s tremendous power in diversity—but only if it is encouraged. Don’t assume that others share the same perspective. The next time you offer your opinion, ask for others to challenge it. Encourage constructive disagreement by modeling it yourself. If your team easily arrives at consensus, ask what perspectives might be missing from the conversation and why. If necessary, bring in an outside perspective to disrupt the echo chamber. Importantly, don’t just wait for differences to naturally emerge—bring them out actively. Learn more
Build in solo thinking time
It might seem counterintuitive, but the best way to get others’ perspectives is not to make more time for group brainstorming—but rather to make time for solo thinking. Giving everyone a chance to capture their own thoughts in private before sharing with the group helps to remove common biases from the equation by encouraging everyone to share their unique ideas, no matter who they are or how well their ideas align to others’. Switching between group conversation and solo idea generation will help your team avoid the common pitfalls of groupthink and will lead to stronger decisions and a stronger team overall. Learn more