Keys to Successful Group Communication People tend to have different ideas about what constitutes good communication. It is important to define communication and ways to build effective communication within teams in order to achieve successful team outcomes. Some people think of communication exclusively as talking, but it should be emphasized that up to 90% of communication can happen by listening to team members and only 10% by talking (Lay, 2008). There are several aspects of effective communication that should be discussed by the group when it is initially formed. For teams to be successful, they should define how they will communicate with each other and define the tasks that will be set by the team. Ground Rules Your team's success depends on clear guidelines and expectations set by the group. Spend time getting to know each other and your availability. Indicate the times you can be reached and whether you are available for emergencies. Establish due dates and time limits for email responses. Davidson suggests establishing a hierarchy of requests for deadlines and due dates. Provides ASAP examples; drop everything and finish it as soon as possible, please hurry; complete and report quickly, priority; put this task at the top of your to-do list and, for your information; see this information when you can (2008). Most team members want to meet the expectations of other team members, but for that to happen, everyone needs to be on the same page about what is expected and when. Defining group tasks It is necessary to develop a specific work plan and divide tasks. First, the steps of a particular task should be outlined, then what resources the team will need to complete the task. Tasks The group should develop a list of tasks that must be completed to bring the project to completion. Assign homework to the group, with this idea in mind: Homework is one thing that can be done by one person, not a major responsibility or a series of tasks that complete a goal. The tasks should be completed by everyone, then brought together into a whole to achieve the goal. Calendar A great idea to stay on track is to create a project calendar with all the task due dates listed on it. This will help the team ensure that the larger end goal is achieved on time. Developing a work plan can take a lot of time and communication.