Team Communication Part 1; Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?

“Perception is Reality.”

I struggle with this statement, but it is true. For so long I have debated this and my thoughts always lead me to believe that reality=truth. This is not always the case. Perception may contain some truth or it may contain zero truth. But the point of this statement is, that perception is THE truth in relationships.

In my time as a team leader, I have found that, unless I am looking into a person’s eyes as I speak to them, there is no true communication. I have to know them. Understand them. And speak directly to them.

I have heard many times that leaders are “sheep herders” … just keeping people in task and making sure we are headed the same way. All though there is some good principle in this, I would disagree when it comes to clear communication. In Matthew 18, Jesus is talking to the disciples about going after the one sheep that is astray. This means a ton to me. I have to be personally interested and engaged in a person’s life to have any effect on them. As leaders, we need to get into each person’s business and let them know that they are cared for. That’s relationship.

My team will never know what I’m thinking unless they either see it in action or hear it spoken about.  How many times has a team member raised concerns that you had not thought about? Or worse that you thought you had taken care of. I am not going to throw the words vision and mission statement out there. You should know what they are. But in the world of team building and leading, there is huge validity to being organized in thought and direction.

I have also noticed over time that passion and focus have to continually be adjusted and re-adjusted. Passions change in my own life and in this, focus begins to change. How does this affect my team? What are they focused on at this moment?

So communication is all about engagement. How does this happen?

It happens when purposeful relationship is sought.

It happens when focus and passion is directed.

It happens when process and detail is laid out.

In the next 3 articles, we will focus on exactly that. Engaging in relationship, casting the vision  and handling the details.

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Related posts:

1. Team Communication Part Three; I Seriously Need To Clean My Lens
2. Team Communication Part Two; Relationship on Purpose
3. Team Communication Part Four; The Devil’s In The Details
4. Letters to Leaders, Vol. 1
5. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!