Supervisors and chairs of committees were invited to take part in a culture workshop on November 10. One component of the workshop focused on areas where communication can break down. We often think communication fails because individuals don’t share enough information, however, the real issue may be when no one owns the message. That’s where accountability comes in. Below are a few suggestions from the workshop:
- Take responsibility for the communication channels and tools you use. Access information that is already available, and if you manage a communication tool, ensure it remains organized, current, and easy to navigate.
- If you serve as a supervisor or chair/lead of a committee or work group, share relevant information with others in a timely and consistent manner.
- Frame your communications so they resonate with the audience. Connect your message to our purpose or just cause, and focus on people and outcomes rather than only the process.
- As a supervisor, encourage department members who participate in committees or work groups to bring updates back to the team during department meetings.
- Close each meeting with clear takeaways, assigned responsibilities, and defined follow-up steps.
- Use a meeting template that outlines agenda items, desired outcomes, and the owner. In your meeting minutes, list each action item, the responsible person, and the associated follow-up or deadline.
Together, these practices help build a consistent, transparent communication culture where information flows easily, expectations are clear, and teams stay aligned on purpose and next steps.