Teams are made up of individuals. The more attention is given to the development of the individual, the more robust and more effective the team becomes. When we support the individuals’ development, we see teams soar. Our ROI doesn’t come from products and services, it comes from the individuals that are delivering them. When they understand what supports their success or what gets in their way, they become more effective team members.
For decades, we’ve been working with teams both corporate and nonprofit. We’ve found that their success has three critical factors in common:
- SCI-fi: Self-aware; Curious; Intentional for impact.
Being self-aware is encouraged and supported through curiosity and intentionality.
- Embodiment: Connecting as your whole self.
Each team member is connected to who they are – they are embodied – voice, mind, and body.
- Presence: Being in relationship with others.
You are open to being seen and seeing others.
An excellent team is made up of self-aware individuals who feel heard and respected. They’re also teams that have learned how to make adjustments for others so that they can be seen and heard. When we work with teams, the first thing we have to do is create an environment of safety that fosters the deepening of self-awareness through self-reflection. Then we equip each member with tools for more accessible and more effective communication.
Let’s explore the tips and tools that support being present on a team.
Effective Team Tip #1: Self-Awareness
What do we mean by self-awareness? We notice what does and doesn’t work in relationships. What connects with others? We ask: What got missed? We need to be able to notice when we miscommunicated or when something didn’t land well. We need to ask ourselves: How did that happen?
If we invite self-awareness, but neglect to supply the tools and techniques to bolster communication, we sabotage our efforts. Self-awareness with lack of access to constructive tools quickly becomes self-consciousness. Yes, I’m aware of what’s going on, but what can I do about it? If there is no technique, the individual erects a wall and isolates from the team and/or leadership.
Instead, if we encourage self-awareness so that the individual realizes that they aren’t landing their communication and need to be more effective; they can reach for a tool or support to make things better. When that tool or support is used, the individual remains in relationship with the team and leadership and fosters a better connection.
Self-awareness goes hand in hand with being curious.
Effective Team Tip #2: Curiosity
When we create a space for curiosity – growth happens. Ask: What happened? How did we miscommunicate? We need to be open to influence in order to move forward. We may wonder if the other person is open to trying again. For teams to grow, we must create an environment of curiosity. We have called it sunflowering. Sunflowering places the responsibility of communicating with both parties or the team. When a team member lands a message ineffectively, the team sunflowers. They get curious about the message – the tone – the nonverbals. This allows the persons’ who are practicing to become more self-aware with real-time practice. Their practicing will then grow their self-awareness and they will begin to ask questions of others. How did that land? Could I have said that differently? And they will add transparency to their communication. Sorry that landed this way – I have something going on right now.
We can also get curious when we do connect. Ask the question: What has shifted in me to make that connection or communication easier? Ask questions of yourself, others, and anyone else who might have insight.
Being receptive to their responses is also key. Be curious – be open and listen.
Effective Team Tip #3: Being Intentional
Self-awareness and curiosity must be powered by intention. If we aren’t intentional, things will fall by the wayside. You are far less likely to be successful without intention. Communication is often messy and being intentional with words, tone, and tactics is worth the focus.
Often, being intentional is a mix of instinct and making new choices. You have to commit to an intentional shift. You can adjust word choice and vocal tone; you can adjust body language and energy; you can adjust where and when. If it’s about the relationship with the other person – what will serve you both to be understood? Find your “shared pool of meaning.”
When we move to our habitual responses like: “Well, that’s the way I communicate. Or that’s what I’ve always done. Or they can figure it out – they get the idea.” – we miss the benefit of being connected with others. Often, we say as coaches, “We don’t choose these patterns to sabotage ourselves. We choose them to protect ourselves.” Effective communication is about relationships and taking responsibility for what will work best to connect.
It’s Not Fake.
A client asked if he is intentional about his communication would it mean that he is being fake. If you’re intentional, you aren’t manipulating the situation. You are making shifts that work better for you and your audience. Yes, there’s always the possibility of being inauthentic. It can land as manipulative if there is sarcasm or lacking heartfelt communication.
Intentional means being aware of what you’re doing. If you reach a snowy patch on the sidewalk, you’ll most likely start stepping with more intention so you don’t slip. Once past the slippery spot, you go back to walking without the focused intention. It certainly doesn’t make you fake or inauthentic because you become intentional about your steps. The same is true with your communication choices. Often, we move along on instinct and habit without considering observations and input that would suggest a different choice.
Intention partners with embodiment to move us forward in our communication.
Effective Team Tip #4: Embodiment
So often, we approach conversations with just our heads. For years, I’ve joked with folks that many of us wish we could send just our heads into meetings. When we think about our bodies, we start to feel more uncomfortable and awkward. It causes one to wonder, when did that become bad? Isn’t it better to show up as your full self – fully embodied even though awkward?
To build relationships founded on trust and connection, we need to bring our whole selves to our interactions. Our voices, bodies, breath, thoughts, and ideas – bring all parts of us to our team.
Fractionated people fracture teams.
To be in your body, to claim your embodiment can be as simple as allowing your shoulders to fall into place and communicate your message from your heart. It can be communicating your message and owning your truth with your team. Sharing your truth with intention while remaining present with your whole self is the greatest gift you can bring to a team.
Our personal brand is often created by the way we show up. Our presence matters.
Effective Team Tip #5: Presence
Executive, leadership, stage, personal, human – whatever word you put in front of presence – it’s always about being in relationship with another person. To be present is to risk being seen and is being open to seeing others. When you aren’t present, you disappear. It is as if you have stepped back behind a wall. You’re isolated. Presence is about connection to others, and when it is absent, it’s only about the self.
Presence is not a constant.
Presence is a verb. It’s a perpetual adjustment – like balance. We need to be making nuanced adjustments to remain in balance and to remain present. It’s not a static state. We can’t just check the box and move on. Instead, it’s a fluid connection to others that we constantly monitor. If you disappear into your head to find an answer to a question, you’re not present for a moment. Then, when you come back with your response, you’re present again.
Sometimes presence can be seen as a store clerk attending to a customer. At times the store clerk ducks into the back room to fetch something for the customer and returns with it. While gone, there’s a disconnect, but it’s quickly restored upon return.
When we bring our unique selves to others, we bring our presence. It’s a gross misunderstanding that we need to become someone or something else to have presence. Having presence and being present is the opposite of this outdated idea. It’s to step into, and even more fully show up as, our amazing selves.
Teams are made up of individuals present to each other and available for each other. Team members are constantly adjusting to be in a relationship with each individual member. This can seem overwhelming, and yet, when we think about our fluidity and connection to family or friends, it doesn’t seem difficult at all. The difference is that we’re being intentional about what the other person needs and intentional about how we’re adding to the equation – in other words: How are we showing up? What are we bringing to the team? How does my unique presence make this team the amazing team that it is?
Build An Effective Team With ARTiculate: Real&Clear
When individuals are supported to realize their unique skills, enabled to share them, and celebrated for their contributions – teams excel. As leaders, when we become clear about what our team is bringing to our organizations, we become clearer about the individual strengths of our team members. We understand how each person rows to make the boat move forward. We understand why we chose this person to be part of our team. Individuals do come together to make a team. When we encourage our teams to become self-aware, curious, and intentional, then we have a stronger team. By guiding them to fully show up in their self-awareness and to embody their uniqueness then we invite each person’s genuine presence.
Teams are the lifeblood of excellent companies – but it’s the individuals who make up the teams that deserve attention. By encouraging one individual on a team to become self-aware, curious and intentional, we shift their connections with others. When we encourage this with the entire team, we shift a team culture.
Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote speaker based out of Denver, CO, and is the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real & Clear. She is also a highly regarded, actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-over artist, and voice expert coach. Contact us today to learn more.
