Your drilling engineering team is struggling with communication. What can you do to improve it?

1 Identify the root causes

The first step to improve communication is to understand why it is breaking down in the first place. Is it due to lack of trust, respect, or accountability? Is it because of unclear roles, expectations, or goals? Is it because of different communication styles, preferences, or channels? Is it because of external factors, such as stress, workload, or deadlines? By identifying the root causes, you can address them more effectively and avoid blaming or criticizing each other.

2 Establish clear and consistent communication protocols

The second step to improve communication is to establish clear and consistent communication protocols for your drilling engineering team. This means defining who, what, when, where, why, and how to communicate. For example, who should be involved in decision-making, reporting, or feedback? What information should be shared, documented, or escalated? When should communication occur, and how often? Where should communication take place, and what tools or platforms should be used? Why is communication important, and what are the objectives or outcomes? How should communication be delivered, and what tone or style should be used?

3 Use effective communication skills and techniques

The third step to improve communication is to use effective communication skills and techniques for your drilling engineering team. This means being clear, concise, and accurate in your messages, and avoiding jargon, slang, or acronyms that may confuse or mislead others. It also means being active, attentive, and empathetic in your listening, and asking open-ended, probing, or clarifying questions to understand others' perspectives, needs, or concerns. It also means being respectful, constructive, and supportive in your feedback, and acknowledging, appreciating, or recognizing others' contributions, efforts, or achievements.

4 Monitor and evaluate communication performance

The fourth step to improve communication is to monitor and evaluate communication performance for your drilling engineering team. This means setting measurable and realistic communication goals, indicators, or standards, and tracking and reviewing them regularly. It also means soliciting and providing feedback on communication strengths and weaknesses, and identifying and implementing action plans to improve them. It also means celebrating and rewarding communication successes, and learning and improving from communication failures.

5 Seek external support or guidance

The fifth step to improve communication is to seek external support or guidance for your drilling engineering team. This means reaching out to other drilling engineers, mentors, coaches, or experts who can offer advice, insights, or best practices on communication. It also means accessing or enrolling in communication training, courses, or workshops that can enhance your communication knowledge, skills, or techniques. It also means using or adopting communication tools, systems, or frameworks that can facilitate or streamline your communication processes.

6 Foster a culture of communication

The sixth and final step to improve communication is to foster a culture of communication for your drilling engineering team. This means creating and maintaining a positive, open, and collaborative communication environment, where everyone feels comfortable, confident, and valued to communicate. It also means encouraging and promoting communication behaviors, habits, or norms, such as honesty, transparency, trust, respect, or accountability. It also means recognizing and resolving communication issues, challenges, or conflicts, and preventing or minimizing communication barriers, gaps, or noise.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?