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In any area of life, whether personal or professional, the ability to communicate and convey information clearly can prevent errors and misunderstandings. Project management is no different, especially when it comes to Giving and receiving feedback.

For communication to occur effectively, it is necessary for the sender and receiver to speak the same language, which within a corporation means the ability to interact, relate, and negotiate with different types of people, as well as manage teams and lead.

Communication in projects is one of the most important areas of knowledge, according to the PMI (Project Management Institute), and requires attention and good management. Even though we have various communication methods available today, it is essential to define how this communication will be carried out in the Project Management Plan.

As much as everyone believes they communicate perfectly, there are ways to avoid errors in information transmission and to plan and organize communication with project teams. Keep reading to understand better.

What is the importance of communication in projects?

When it comes to project management, adequate communication (in which the receiver fully understands the message sent and there are no interfering noises) serves to define all aspects of planning, such as what will be done, who will carry out each activity, what the available deadline is, and what the expected final outcome is.

All the Human resources Those involved in the project need to receive clear and sufficient information to understand the workflow. Furthermore, it is through communication that bonds can be established between team members and the manager, so that ideas can be generated and important considerations can be disseminated.

It's worth remembering that conversations are to say that there are various types of communication and all need to be properly managed. Some of them are:

• Internal communication (that occurs within the team) and external communication (with clients, the public, or other projects);
• Written and oral communication;
• verbal and non-verbal (which includes tone of voice and body language);
• vertical (between superior and inferior levels) and horizontal (between collaborators of the same level).

When discussing the importance of communication in projects, we must also highlight that inefficiency in this area can lead to various management losses and result in failure.

Communication failures can lead to misunderstandings, difficulty in comprehending plans, and inconsistencies regarding the responsibilities of each party involved. In addition to financial losses, this can delay project execution and increase rework.

Best practices

Communication management processes are used to ensure that project information is properly planned and then collected, created, stored, shared, managed, and monitored, as well as always presented in an accessible and clear manner.

According to the PMBOK Guide, the processes for the communications area are Plan Communications Management, Manage Communications, and Monitor Communications.

There are some practices, but success rates in companies are high, including in management of projects. It consists of mapping all the functions and activities to be performed in a very visual way, which allows for a better understanding of the workflow and the division of responsibilities.

The Canvas can be made through a mural or, for more modern projects, through management software.

Project management software

The area already has many available technological resources that can facilitate all aspects and make communication more efficient. With software, it's possible to make all necessary information available to those involved, such as deadlines, goals, budget, responsibilities, and risk.

Additionally, each contributor can add new content and update their tasks, so that other team members know what is being done.

External audience

Those who think that only internal communication is relevant to the smooth running of a project are mistaken. Listening to suppliers, clients, and other stakeholders can help in obtaining valuable information and opinions.

Offer a communication channel to this audience, where customers can, for example, test innovations and send feedback on a particular product or service. This can prevent the investment of resources in items with little functionality or that do not meet consumer expectations.

Giving feedback to collaborators and creating an environment conducive to communication are also useful practices for efficient project communication. Project success is directly linked to communication and how it's done. Does your company? Do you have any experience to share? Use our comment section and share your opinion on the subject!