How To Shatter Silos, Reduce Drag, & Break Free from Zoom Fatigue: A SENT Guide to Improving Communication on Your Team
What is solidarity, and why does it matter to your team?
This post is the first installation of a mini-blog series applying the principle of solidarity to your team.
When it comes to how humans relate to society, Catholic Social Teaching can be boiled down to 4 guiding principles: solidarity, the dignity of the human person, subsidiarity, and the common good.
According to John Paul II, solidarity is “a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”
Central to solidarity is the goal of justice and peace. While solidarity often is used in reference to collaboration for the sake of justice and peace on behalf of the human family, you can apply the principle to the smaller scale of your team.
So, how do you promote a spirit of solidarity on your team?
The first step is communication.
Forge friendship as a foundation for your communication
Embodying a spirit of solidarity means that you refuse to see the individuals on your team as pegs in a machine. This is easier said than done.
After all, tasks do need to be completed. Processes carried out in a timely fashion. Feedback given. Tweaks made before projects can be finished. Sometimes, the very collaboration among talented individuals that you prize can feel like an obstacle rather than an asset
But part of cultivating a spirit of solidarity is truly willing the common good and the good of each individual. Yes, you will the good of your venture. Otherwise, how will you grow, succeed and compensate your team in the way that they deserve?
But you can’t truly work for the common good if you lose sight of each person as an individual.
A few ways to do this are…
Taking note of what’s going on in their lives and following up with questions the next time you talk
Check in if you know your team members have a lot on their plate. Help them prioritize.
Ask how you can support overall and how you can meet specific needs
If you work to meet the needs of your team even as you are setting expectations, you’ll help your team stop separating the “work self” from the “real self.” You will encourage genuine friendship, which will improve communication and nurture a spirit of solidarity.
Model ownership of the mistakes, not just the wins
Another way to build a spirit of solidarity through communication is by owning up to your failures.
In personal life, individuals make mistakes, take longer on a project than anticipated, fail to communicate a critical expectation, and become forgetful. The “work self” makes mistakes, too.
There’s a balance to strike here. Belaboring your mistakes can encourage bandwagoning, and not every small failure merits comment. But, when another team member is inconvenienced by a mistake on your part, learn how to admit it easily, take responsibility, and move on.
By modeling this ownership, you encourage similar behavior throughout your team. Doing this dispels the notion that you have to be perfect at work and mitigates the possibilities for resentment. Ownership yields a more relaxed, secure, and effective team.
Slow down, switch up tools, and move faster.
On a more practical note, adapting the tools you use to communicate can eliminate miscommunications and stress.
If overbooking yourself with Zoom meetings isn’t working anymore, switch it up.
Here’s the catch. You might have to slow down in order to assess other options and develop a personal system for communicating with your team. But perfecting your process will save you time in the future and help you convey reciprocal needs easily throughout your team.
Maybe you have a weekly 1:1 to delegate tasks to a specific team member. Perhaps you’re so bogged down with Zoom calls that you're never prepped by the time you get to the meeting and waste time. In that case, a 10-minute Loom, Screenflow, or Snagit video allows you to communicate clearly at your own pace and gives your team member something to reference later.
Perhaps you always rush to type out a Slack message because it’s quick and easy, whereas a Slack voice memo would better convey your tone and your emphasis.
Workflow tools are developing at a rapid pace. Slow down and do your research. Build an environment that nurtures simple and effective communication in your processes. Free yourself and your team to relate with ease.
