OneIT Communication Norms

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Communication Norm #1

Engage Purposefully with GOAL

  • Gather only essential members as-needed
  • Outline agenda/goals collaboratively before the meeting
  • Actively present with verbal/nonverbal cues and minimum distractions
  • Limit meeting duration to stay focused and concise ( < 45 min, end when goals are met)
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Communication Norm #2

Collaborate Respectfully with TEAM

  • Take turns inclusively with roundtable techniques
  • Express concisely and stay on topic (e.g., 10-20-30 rule)
  • Actively listen before answering
  • Mirror, paraphrase or ask questions for clarity
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Communication Norm #3

Communicate with Integrity with PART

  • Pick an appropriate platform (e.g., Slack for urgent/internal. Google Workspaces for external, and Zoom for SDSU)
  • Articulate explicitly, directly, and transparently
  • Respect and understand diverse individual needs and communication styles
  • Take turns or use technology for notetaking and action items (e.g., Zoom AI companion).

Piloting OneIT Communication Norms (2024-2025)

  • Phase 1: Understanding Our Communication Landscape (December 2024)

    We began with self-awareness by completing communication style assessment, which revealed a wide diversity in communication styles across OneIT community members. There are notable differences in how individuals express themselves, interpret others, approach conflict, use interpersonal space, and manage time in their communications.

  • Phase 2: Putting Communication to the Test (January 2025)

    We conducted the a communication and decision-making challenge with the OneIT leadership teams. This exercise revealed how information asymmetry and diverse communication styles impact team outcomes. Key lessons emerged about the importance of developing OneIT communication norms to provide guardrails for transparent information sharing, a representation of OneIT shared values and purpose, and social autopilot to ensure effectives in time when we have to move fast under uncertainty.

  • Phase 3: Expanding the Conversation (February 2025)

    We broadened participation by involving OneIT community members in drafting communication norms for both in-person and virtual interactions in a workshop conducted during a town hall meeting. Remarkably, consistent categories of communication norms emerged across the community, showing alignment in our communication priorities despite our diverse styles.

  • Phase 4: Refining Our Approach (March 2025)

    The leadership team synthesized input from all workshops and developed three core communication norms that align with our organizational values and support the "3Es" of effective communication: Energy, Engagement, and Exploration.