Quotes about Communication

In the world of teams and teamwork I often find the belief that to work and communicate effectively, team members must be close comrades. In fact, this is a common misperception. Although team members don't need to know one another very well personally to perform as a team, they do need to know one another's abilities and potential contributions.

Effective team leaders work creatively with each team member to ensure they understand the following issues: Why this task is important to the organization. Why this team task is important to them personally. Why they (their role) are important to the team. Who the other team members are and why they are important to the mission of the team.

Alignment cannot be achieved with one good speech from the bridge of the ship—it is established one person at a time. Even though everyone is in the same boat, heading in the same direction, it's quite likely they are going there for different reasons. Yes, working through these issues one person at a time is time consuming, but not as time consuming and frustrating as dealing with lack of alignment when the boat is in the middle of a storm, part way to its destination.

Although we might place our trust in the team, that trust is invested one person at a time. I, as a team member, must build trust with every other member of the team on an individual basis and vice versa.

High performance teams master the art of straight talk. They have learned how to confront issues and address behaviors without attacking or provoking one another.

Crystal clear roles characterize high performance teams. Every team member is clear about his or her particular role as well as those of the other team members.

Ultimately leadership boils down to a relationship. High-quality relationships are based on trust—trust of one anothers' competence as well as character.

Communication is the very means of cooperation.

Teach me neither to proffer nor receive cheap praise.

Principle 1 - Don't criticize, condemn or complain.

Peleando no se consigue jamás lo suficiente, pero cediendo se consigue más de lo que se espera.

Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite.