What do you do if your ideas as an executive in Operations Research are not being effectively communicated?

I never assume what someone does or doesn’t know – only that they are intelligent and capable of understanding provided I appropriately explain. With that being said, I find translating key terms and acronyms to be critical when trying to make it simple for my supervisor or team to understand. If it is not vital, I cut out the jargon and instead provide context and analogies that are relatable. Metaphors are also an excellent way to improve a department’s understanding by putting a foreign concept in a familiar context.

I'd employ adaptive leadership strategies to understand team dynamics, foster a culture of open communication, and receive and use feedback to improve my communication message and channels. I'd adapt my communication style to resonate with diverse team members. I'd also emphasize how my proposals or ask(s) align with our organizational mission and vision, clarifying the significance and benefits to our collective goals. I might also consider change management approaches like the Kotter 8-Step Model if the issue is not just communication, but also the readiness of the team to accept and participate in a change of direction or practice.

Yes, it is very useful. Sometimes it's better to use an agile approach to make a decision. If a single team member is not clear about an upcoming challenges in the operation, it would impact the whole operation. So, it's really necessary to have back-to-back meetings with teams, take their opinions, clear their confusions, and move on.

Tea time! The workplace, either a remote or physical space is where a great number of hours, energy is expended. Mental blocks, actions, inactions and reactions recur. It is important as a leader, to take on the responsibility to call my house to order for recess, regroup. I may not have communicated these ideas properly. Thus, a time-out to gauge and reassess their understanding of the ideas marshaled out. Also use this opportunity to listen to feedback, to effectively see where the gap lies. I must remember that these are the ideation stages, so all ideas are welcome!

When there is a communication breakdown among my team, I normally conduct an assessment to determine where the information got lost. I try to find out what has led to that, and determine how it could be done differently. In addition, I assess the method of communication and the delivery mode and then analyze the best possible way of communication. I include my team to participate from the initial stages of the assessment to the final conclusion and recommendations on the way forward. This is to ensure that everyone feels that they have been heard and was included in finding a solution.

Taking feedback from team members means giving respect to them. Every human is happy when someone values their words. They will focus more on the project when they feel that their feedback will be valuable. And, a few smart and true feedbacks reduce challenges and help a lot in making the right decision. It helps to improve an idea continuously to turn it into reality.

Taking feedback from team members means giving respect to them. Every human is happy when someone values their words. They will focus more on the project when they feel that their feedback will be valuable. And, a few smart and true feedbacks reduce challenges and help a lot in making the right decision. It helps to improve an idea continuously to turn it into reality.

One thing I found helpful is to communicate in ways that they learn. Can be visual or oral communication. Everyone learns different

Patience is a unique quality of a team leader, it's an attitude and shows well personality. A team is made up of people with different types of thinking. However, their goal should be the same. Due to the diversity in thinking behavior, various opinions may arise during discussions. But, the idea presenter or team leader should practice patience and provide logical feedback in favor of or against those opinions to execute any operation. Through calmness and patience, any problem can be solved early.