Having a team meeting that is inclusive for all members helps them to feel valuable and respected. Building relationships requires building trust. Members need to know that they are being heard, understood, and valued. Active listening helps with the communication process. Learning to see a situation from another person's perspective opens the door for effective communication. To understand your coworkers or clients, you must be able to effectively communicate and that requires active listening. Active listening requires you to pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication. Once you truly understand the person who you are trying to help, then you can understand how best to help them. Effective communication places you in a wonderful position to change the lives of those you work with and their families. This can be such a rewarding experience.

What strategies would you use to strengthen your team?