4 Communication: Addressing Work-Related Questions

FACT: 9 out of 10 internal conflicts arise within companies or organizations due to a lack of communication, under-communication or miscommunication.

Given the importance of great communication, we’ve assembled this guide. We hope it will be helpful in your day to day work. If you feel that anything is missing, let Tiffany know!

• Questions are always encouraged but should reflect some attempt at determining the response independently if possible or conferring with others on the team (see project plan and/or organization chart) or as appropriate to the question (see below).
• Do not just assume or draw in others when not needed—use your tools, literature, data, and information resources first!
• If asked a question by a colleague that does not pertain to a project you are not on, defer to someone who is specifically involved in that project or to Naomi and Tiffany.
• If questions arise pertaining to a project, pull in only those assigned to the project. More specifically:
  • General questions can be addressed by the point person on the project and/or Naomi and Tiffany.
  • Collaborative, ongoing and detail-oriented specifics of the project should be discussed with Naomi and Tiffany and/or covered within an upcoming team meeting. If awaiting an upcoming meeting, send Naomi and Tiffany an email to check on the ability to add such questions or thoughts to the upcoming agenda.
• Questions pertaining to negotiables of a project are fine to ask “on the fly”. Questions pertaining to non-negotiables should be noted and to await meetings for full group discussion.
• Time-sensitive concerns or thoughts can be addressed in a text, email and/or by setting an added meeting time. There are many priorities at any given time so ensure that “time sensitive” requests cannot await a meeting. With this in mind, it is imperative to make every effort to plan in advance to cover questions, areas in need of clarification or added thoughts in meetings given the frequency of related meetings.
• Questions/comments that reflect large or initial considerations may require time for processing and should be covered in group meetings.