As all developers know, there’s pressure to balance speed, cost, and quality of projects. For those working in a high-tech, agile team, clear communication isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a vital part of any successful team.

In the first part of our series on unlocking team potential, we dive into the things that can boost team performance to consistently deliver quality code.

Align on the ‘Why’

A successful team will always understand why they are doing something. Whether it’s the reasoning behind a new feature or the overall objective of the project, everyone should understand the purpose of what they are working on. This allows team leaders to get proper buy-in from developers, as well as executives.

Speak one language

Speaking one language is about finding a common vocabulary to discuss the project at all levels. And it’s not just developers who need to be on the same page but all stakeholders involved in the process. This means everyone understands the objectives, progress, and expectations.

Focus on MVP

It’s tempting to aim for perfection but it’s far more effective to define a minimum viable product (MVP) and then work iteratively on new features and updates. Proper communication during this process is vital as everyone needs to understand what the properties and trade-offs are. This helps the team avoid getting bogged down by perfectionism, allowing them to deliver value quickly.

Document, document, document

It’s important to document as if your product depends on it—because it does! Clear, up-to-date documentation is the guiding force for every decision and task. This is important during the early stages of any project but becomes even more vital when it comes to delivery updates or fixing bugs.

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Team leaders should properly communicate the importance of this at all stages. Give developers the space to include documentation duties in their usual workflows during a sprint to ensure these important tasks are completed alongside other tasks.

 

Feedback is a two-way street

Proper communication is built on a culture where everyone feels comfortable giving honest feedback in all directions. This fuels continuous improvement but also helps avoid roadblocks in the future. Build in time for developers to share feedback but make it clear that it’s also welcomed at any stage during the process.

 

Listen

Your team, customers, and stakeholders could hold the key to innovation. This is why it’s so important to listen. Direct feedback can be useful and it’s important to take this on board but listen for the meaning behind all communications. A customer talking about a challenge they’re currently dealing with could be an opportunity to add something new to a contract or a chance to go above and beyond for them.

The most groundbreaking products don’t come from the loudest voices—they come from teams that value communication and collaboration. When team members listen to each other’s feedback and understand the purpose behind their work, they can achieve even more together.

Read our next part: Unlocking Team Potential: Focus on the customer