Weekly Wonder: Developing Soft Skills - Training for Effective Communication and Leadership

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Technical expertise alone isn’t enough to drive success with your CUG - in reality, soft skills like communication and leadership are also essential for building strong teams and achieving goals.

Developing these skills can help you overcome common obstacles and work more effectively with others. This article explores Atlassian’s best practices for strengthening communication and leadership, offering practical tips to help you and your team thrive.

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1) Practice Clear, Concise Communication

• Effective written and verbal communication is foundational for teamwork, especially in distributed or cross-functional teams.

• Leaders should communicate the “why,” “what,” and “how” of team goals and processes.

• Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and builds trust.

• Tip: Use tools like Confluence to document decisions and share knowledge that persists over time.

2) Foster Psychological Safety and Trust

• Teams perform best when members feel safe to share ideas, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of negative consequences.

• Trust is built through transparency, openness, and consistent follow-through.

• Tip: Regularly check in with team members and encourage open feedback.

3) Embrace Diversity and Adaptability

• Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives but also require navigating different personalities and problem-solving styles.

• Adaptability and empathy are key to overcoming interpersonal challenges.

• Tip: Use self-guided workshops to uncover team blind spots and improve collaboration.

4) Develop Active Listening and Feedback Skills

• Listening actively and providing constructive feedback are essential for effective leadership and collaboration.

• Avoid interrupting, paraphrase what you’ve heard, and ask clarifying questions.

• Tip: Schedule regular 1:1s and retrospectives to practice these skills.

5) Commit to Continuous Learning and Peer Collaboration

• Soft skills are not static; they require ongoing development through learning, feedback, and practice.

• Peer collaboration, role play, and async think time enhance learning outcomes.

• Tip: Participate in soft skills learning programs and use Trello boards to track progress.

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Overcoming Common Obstacles

• Communication breakdowns: Use documentation and regular updates to keep everyone aligned.

• Lack of trust: Build psychological safety through transparency and empathy.

• Resistance to feedback: Normalize feedback as a growth tool, not criticism.

• Cultural and personality differences: Leverage diversity as a strength and adapt communication styles as needed.

• Stagnation in skill growth: Encourage continuous learning and celebrate progress.

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By investing in soft skills like effective communication and leadership, you empower yourself and your team to navigate challenges, build trust, and achieve more together.

Remember, growth in these areas is a continuous journey - so embrace feedback, stay open to learning, and support one another along the way. With intention and practice, you’ll foster a culture where everyone can contribute their best and thrive.

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Additional resources

• What about soft skills?

• Team building activities: Atlassian Team Playbook review