Build trust and teamwork with concise in-application communications and guides

Over the years I played basketball, I learned the importance of trust in my team. Athletes in general understand that winning at high levels means working with teammates and coaches to get better, to get stronger, and to share the highs and lows of a career. Trust within a team is critical and it is cultivated over time. Trust is especially valuable when the team must push through particularly hard times or lean into unfamiliar new territory.

An essential tool for building trust for all successful teams is the talk that goes on in training and within the context of competition. Great teams in all sports engage in the practice of talking to each other. It could be the obvious kinds of talk that comes from a coach who is giving direction, giving feedback on skills, or offering words of motivation. In my experience it also included the talk that occurred between teammates. After a huddle where we would shout a regular cheer reminding ourselves of our team belonging and pride. After an amazing play, where we would collectively shout words of affirmation to our teammate. In a period of training or a game where we could see the energy flagging and we wanted to lift each other’s spirits. These words were exchanged to encourage, to motivate, to focus and they occurred every day.

Another way talking would occur in the context of my basketball days was while executing our offense and defense. During a game, phrases like “Mine!” or “I’ve got it!” or “Ball!” were constantly streaming out of our mouths. In basketball, as a player, you have both a role and function unique to your position on the team, and as a part of the larger strategy and tactic. Our talk on the court was a way of acknowledging each other. Our talk on the court reminded us that we were all here, both as individuals and a team, shifting and adjusting to whatever the situation required. As the game required us to pivot and move, whether on defense or offense, the chatter from teammates added to the cohesion.

The talk occurring on your team also contributes to the sense of connectedness and trust. While certainly the talk that occurs in the arena of sport can seem different than the talk that occurs in your workplace, still the value of talk as a tool for building cohesion and trust is no less significant. Especially in the context of remote or hybrid teams, the talk on a team is the most valuable tool for building cohesion. The kind of talk that builds connectedness and trust is relevant to what is happening right now. The kind of talk that builds trust directly addresses what needs to get done to be successful and acknowledges the psychological and emotional state of teammates.

The talk taking place on your team can also bolster confidence or help refocus in difficult times. This kind of talk can occur formally (like a well composed business-wide email) or informally (like an impromptu acknowledgement of your team’s resilience on a tough project). This is the kind of talk that reminds people of what your team stands for and what your purpose is. When teammates are feeling nervous about an upcoming change, or are feeling discouraged during a challenging season, the talk on your team can be crucial in enduring and thriving together.

Oracle Guided Learning helps you maximize the opportunities to talk to your team and for your team to talk to you. As a best-in-class digital adoption tool, OGL helps you build trust and foster your team’s confidence within your Oracle Cloud applications. Consider how the following features help you talk to your team amid the action:

• Smart tips: you can remind your team they are not alone. You can offer the direction and guidance right where it’s needed, at exactly the right time.
• Messages: you can deploy fresh and relevant messaging about what’s most important to your business right now. You can connect with your team and acknowledge their needs quickly and easily, within the application
• Hot spots: you can “listen” to what your team is telling you by capturing data about how they are moving through the application. You can then answer with targeted in-application guidance or support
• Analytics: your team can signal when they need something.

Organizations who value trust will leverage many tools to foster communication with their employees. Oracle Guided Learning ensures you can talk with your team in your Cloud applications, where the action is taking place.

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