Multiple boundaries exist informally in teams. In the rush to get work done, these boundaries get overlooked and can cause communication problems and tension.

One of the easiest boundaries to tap is expectations people hold about time available (temporal issues).

But expectations also exist around operations whether tasks should be seen as more mechanical (routine) or more organic--to be creative in solving, and should have more discussion.

Expectations exist personally, too. This area ofpsychological safetyis rarely discussed in teams, but you as member need to be aware of how/when you show emotions. Tapping your feelings signals a psychological boundary.

Behaviors that assure or develop you have personal skill forpsychological safety include:

• Ease in asking questions--and asking them in video sessions
• Admitting miscues or misinterpretations about others
• Holding confidence that you can raise a concern without repercussion
• Being generous/compassionate when listening to another
• Holding commitment to team agreements for communication/scheduling

As a result, understanding the dynamics or push and pull of boundaries becomes very important to a virtual team. Here's why: communication can be more limited and signals for what's truly important becomes muted/overlooked.

Communication-related dynamics can often reveal the need to discuss boundaries. Here's a list of descriptions, words, phrases that suggest gaps or differences for expectations about boundaries:

• Believing you have explained an idea to then find confusion in comments from others ...
• Rushing to talk--maybe without listening. ...
• Failing to connect. ...
• Trying to convince. ...
• Second-guessing. ...
• Saying too much. ...
• Saying too little. ...
• Interrupting..
• Talking down.

Understand specific details about expectations to use team boundaries well. An important goal is to know more of what members want and expect to happen as the team completes its work.

Effective boundary management shows up inthe team's ground rules. Thinking more about the possible connections between ground rules and communication will help make team boundaries more supportive.

Now think about your 665 course team--what have you observed about your communication ground rules in this team project.

Answer this questions in your main post:

1. List a strong, effective communication ground rule for the 665 team.
2. Identify 1 or more communication problems that this rule solves
3. How can this rule or a similar one be implemented in a workplace team--a team that may pay more attention on getting things done quickly? Who needs to take the lead for adopting such a communication rule?