Business Communication Skills for

Managers
Module 12: Collaboration in and across Teams
Why does collaboration in and between teams
matter?
Team Communication in the Workplace
Learning Outcomes: Team Communication in the Workplace

12.1 Discuss the role and types of teams in workplace communication

12.1.1 Discuss the value of teams in business communication
12.1.2 Discuss types of teams in organizations
12.1.3 Explain advantages and disadvantages of teams and team dynamics
12.1.4 Discuss impact of group size on communication
12.1.5 Describe various ways of interpreting and responding to conflict in interpersonal
communication
The Value of Teams in Business Communication

Why do teams exist?

Teams bring together members of the organization with a wide variety of skills to achieve a
common goal.

Organizations accomplish these goals by carefully selecting the type of teams they use.

This module provides skills related to workplace communication in these valuable groups and
teams. It examines types of teams, roles of team members and how to communicate within
teams.
Types of Teams

Types of teams:
1. Cross-functional teams
2. Task Forces
3. Virtual Teams
4. Self-Managed Teams
Practice Question 1

Customer and installer complaints are on the rise due to shipments that seem to either have
the wrong cables, missing cables, or too many cables. Which type of team is best suited to
solve this problem?

a) task force
b) a virtual team
c) a project team
Teams and Team Dynamics

What are the advantages

of teams?

What are the disadvantages

of teams?
Group Communication Networks

Reporting structures avoid information overload and maintain good information flow.

Organizations should consider the various types of structures above and then modify them
based upon the employee need to know, timeliness of information needed, and communication
tools available
Discussion: Conflict Resolution

Divide into small groups and discuss your answers to the following questions:

What are some sources of team conflicts?

What are the symptoms of team conflict?
How can destructive conflict be avoided?
What are some solutions to conflict?
How do teams prevent damaging conflict?
What is the best way to resolve conflict?
Collaborative Projects
Learning Outcomes: Collaborative Projects

12.2 Discuss strategies for working in collaborative projects

12.2.1 Discuss different styles of decision making in groups
12.2.2 Discuss digital tools for communicating with groups
12.2.3 Describe the process of collaborating with others to create a business message
12.2.4 Discuss digital tools for collaborative writing
Decision Making in Groups

Decision Style Theory:

This theory examines the context for decisions across two
continuums. One side relates to the decision-makers
tolerance from uncertainty to certainty against relationship
to task accomplishment.

The four quadrants represent four decision making styles.

Decision Making in Groups (cont.)

The left side of the continuum is is better aligned with Conceptual and Behavioral decision
making styles, while the right side is better aligned with Directive and Analytical styles.
Tools for Communicating With Groups

Communication Tools:
• Meeting scheduling
• Quick conversation (use tools like Slack, Google Hangouts, etc.)
• Email
• Conferencing
• Project management (use tools like Basecamp, Trello, etc.)
Collaborative Writing

Collaborative Writing: Projects where written works are created by multiple people rather than
individually.

How the writing takes place should be determined by the following:

• Individual writing skill
• Length of time to final product
• Expertise in subject matter
Tools for Collaborative Writing

Which program are you using?

Microsoft word:
• Track Changes: allows each user’s changes to be highlighted
• Compare Documents: the original document and the edited document can be displayed side by side

Google Docs: multiple users can work on a single document

Dropbox: more focused on file storage and retention

Activity

Compare and contrast tools for collaborative writing. Discuss which collaborative writing
tools have made it easier to design better work processes. List the ways each tool helps to
monitor what users are contributing and when they contribute, so managers can quickly
verify that assigned work is being completed.
Workplace Etiquette
Learning Outcomes: Workplace Etiquette

12.3 Discuss best practices in workplace etiquette

12.3.1 Discuss appropriate ways to behave in a workplace
12.3.2 Discuss appropriate and inappropriate conduct at company events
Interaction in the Workplace

Aspects to consider:
• Attire
• Body Language
• Handshakes
• Eye contact
• Gestures
• Volume and Location
• Written Communication
• Be on Time
Company Events

External events:
• Conversation starters:
• Have you always lived in [state]?
• What brought you to work for [company]?
• Introductions: give people a way to enter the conversation
• The basics: leave your phone in the car and don’t chew gum!
• Table manners
• Alcohol and marijuana: keep your intake far less than the legal limit.

When in doubt, err on the side of greater formality and respect!

Company Events

Internal Events:
• Conversation: it is your responsibility to meet and greet others that have been invited.
• Introductions: Look for the individuals who are alone in the crowd and introduce yourself to
them.
• The basics: don’t get too comfortable! You need to remain professional even among just
your coworkers.

When in doubt, err on the side of greater formality and respect!

Practice Question 2

Gretchen walked in to the corporate awards dinner meeting room. There was a bar in each
corner, two long tables of appetizers, and about 50 people milling about. None of these
people were from her region. What should Gretchen do?

a) head to the bar for a glass of Chardonnay. It will fill her hands, calm her nerves, and help
her look like she has something to do.
b) Put a smile on her face and move toward someone new to meet.
c) Get a plat and slowly walk down to the table of appetizers while waiting for a familiar
face.
d) Head out to the hallway and text one of her co-workers.
Quick Review

• What are the different roles and types of teams in workplace communication?
• What are strategies for working on collaborative projects?
• What are the best practices in workplace etiquette?