How to improve your communications skills and work together as a team

In order to create change, many of us may feel like we have to work alone. Personally, while I believe individual social action can be  very impactful and a very good way to start your journey , working with others can help extend the reach of your work and make a bigger difference. Some of my biggest impacts in social action have come from working in a team.

For example, during the 2023 #iWill week, I worked with four other girls to create a workshop on making social action more accessible. Even though I had my own little section, I had to collaborate with everyone and be open to new ideas to create something that truly reflected all of our visions. As someone who has always found teamwork challenging, I realized that when you find other passionate young people, working together can actually be really easy,as long as you’re open to change and willing to adapt your ideas to fit the group’s needs.

From what I’ve learned over the past two years, here are my top tips:

•  Listen – It’s so important when working with others that you’re not just focused on what you want to achieve. By listening to others, you can learn, create, or adapt ideas that help make an even bigger impact.
•  Be Open – Sometimes we get so caught up in our own ideas that we don’t give others a chance. But being open means you might hear something that actually makes your idea stronger.
•  Don’t Take It Personally – If someone criticizes your idea, don’t see it as a personal attack. I’ll be honest this is something I really struggled with because I tend to take things too personally. But over time, I’ve realized that feedback isn’t about tearing me down; it’s about making the project the best it can be.
•  Support Others – When working in a team, it’s important to uplift others. Encourage their ideas, celebrate their contributions, and keep the energy positive.Sometimes we get so caught up in our thoughts we struggle to pay attention to others so if you notice someone is withdrawn check on them and make sure that they are ok.
•  Include Everyone –  Not everyone feels confident speaking up in a group, so if you notice someone hasn’t contributed, make sure they get the chance to share their thoughts. Some people might find it hard to voice their opinions, so check in with them and make sure they’re comfortable. If they don’t feel like speaking, you can always offer to share their ideas on their behalf.

After all, like my mum always says, if you want to create change, you need to let it spread and the best way to do that is by working in groups and building long-lasting connections.

Written by #iWill Ambassador Mabrookah