A communication reset program helps leaders take deliberate action to emphasize that unproductive conflict, evasions, stalling, and lack of accountability are a thing of the past. Most of the communication that really matters – that builds relationships – is conducted person-to-person. Direct person-to-person communication is comprised of verbal, tonal, and nonverbal cues, and the more intense the situation, the more people take meaning from tonal and nonverbal cues. When colleagues purposely focus on making each other comfortable, it is far more likely that they will understand the true intent of conversations, not just the words.

Encouraging internal challenges leads to improved ability to anticipate external challenges, and sets the tone for the debate of ideas. When there is trust and appreciation of diversity, there is an increase in collaboration along with a decrease in time-wasting, unproductive conflict. With trust, team members have confidence that their colleagues have positive intentions, and that it is safe to share problems and ask for assistance. When individual differences are supported and valued, constructive feedback/pushback occurs. Once team members have aired their opinions, they can move to action, commitment, accountability, and follow through. This is the fuel for positive change.

For collaboration to occur, people have to know who the influencers and connectors are, and where to go for knowledge and expertise. During challenging economic conditions it is often more difficult to make the connections because vital resources in the organizational chart may have moved. Using communication skill training to speed up the getting-to-know-you process helps colleagues find the people who know how processes actually work, and collect essential people to move projects forward.