What do you do if your Peer Support team's communication is ineffective?

1 Assess the situation

The first step is to identify the root causes of the communication problems in your team. Is it a lack of clarity, feedback, or respect? Is it a mismatch of expectations, goals, or styles? Is it a technical issue, such as poor audio quality, slow internet, or outdated software? To assess the situation, you can use various tools, such as surveys, interviews, observation, or self-reflection. You can also ask for feedback from your team members, clients, or supervisors. The more you understand the nature and extent of the communication issues, the better you can address them.

3 Choose the right tools and channels

The third step is to select the most appropriate tools and channels for your team's communication. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can use different types of communication tools and channels, such as phone calls, emails, text messages, video calls, chat apps, or social media. However, not all tools and channels are equally effective for every purpose and situation. You need to consider factors such as availability, accessibility, reliability, security, cost, and compatibility. To choose the right tools and channels, you can use various criteria, such as speed, convenience, richness, feedback, or interactivity. You can also test and evaluate different options, to find the ones that work best for your team.

4 Develop your communication skills

The fourth step is to improve your own communication skills and help your team members do the same. Communication skills are not innate; they can be learned and practiced. Some of the key communication skills for peer support teams are active listening, empathy, assertiveness, clarity, and feedback. To develop your communication skills, you can use various resources, such as books, courses, podcasts, or mentors. You can also seek feedback from others, monitor your progress, and celebrate your achievements.

6 Review and improve

The final step is to review and improve your team's communication on a regular basis. Communication is not a static or fixed process; it evolves and changes over time. You need to monitor and evaluate your team's communication performance, and identify the strengths and weaknesses. You also need to solicit and provide feedback, and acknowledge and address any issues or concerns. You also need to celebrate and reward your team's communication successes, and learn from your mistakes. To review and improve your team's communication, you can use various tools, such as surveys, audits, reports, or meetings.

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?