Communicating within the team you manage

- Strong communication is the lifeblood…of high performing teams.…The significance of effective communication…within a team can't be understated.…The best managers are strong communicators,…both electronically and in person,…and know when to use each.…Most of us receive more email than we'd like.…Determining how your team will communicate via email…will help alleviate some of the stress…associated with our overflowing inboxes.…Consider what norms work best for you…and then have a discussion,…allowing your team to give input.…

Email norms that I strongly suggest…are related to response times, carbon copies,…and the overused reply all.…Let's start with response times.…When I'm working in a team,…I generally set the expectation…that they'll receive an email response from me…within two business days.…Beyond that, it's a good idea to check back in with me.…If your company already has a policy like this for everyone,…you can skip this, unless you think your team…needs a different, perhaps shorter, response window…than the one your company uses.…