How should communication outside of meetings proceed?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

As the team's level of trust increases, the need for face-to-face meetings may decline. Alternative modes of communication can be used to keep members informed of progress, changes, and the need for team meetings. The team should also decide how members unable to meet with the entire group will communicate with the team, as well as how the team will communicate meeting results to absent members. Progress reports should include information about what is or is not happening. Sometimes what is not happening is as important as what is actually taking place. Other points to include in a progress report include pointing out tasks that need immediate attention or changes that need to be made. One of the most important parts of a progress report is recommendations for what needs to be done to get a task or an activity back on track.


A process check, another way of communicating in face-to-face meetings or in electronic forms of communication, can help move the team (or individuals) toward improved performance. Usually, a process check is a reflection of:
• What the team members did well that they want to continue doing.
• What did not go as well as the team would have liked.
• What the team can do to improve the things they want to improve and not detract

from the things they think are going well.


The team should periodically conduct a process check at the beginning or end of a team meeting; doing so will help resolve people's differences and reinforce good feelings. Either way, a process check facilitates a professional, functioning team.