What do you do if your Operations Research team lacks effective communication skills?

2 Establish clear goals and expectations

Another important aspect of effective communication is to establish clear goals and expectations for your OR project. You should communicate the purpose, scope, and deliverables of your project to your team and your client, and ensure that everyone is on the same page. You should also define the roles and responsibilities of each team member, and the communication channels and frequency that you will use. By setting clear goals and expectations, you can avoid confusion, duplication, and frustration, and ensure that your team works towards a common vision.

3 Use visual aids and storytelling

One of the challenges of communicating OR results is to make them understandable and relevant to your audience, especially if they are not familiar with the technical details and jargon. A good way to overcome this challenge is to use visual aids and storytelling to present your data and analysis. Visual aids, such as graphs, charts, diagrams, or dashboards, can help you highlight the key insights and trends, and make your data more engaging and memorable. Storytelling, on the other hand, can help you connect your data to your audience's needs and interests, and show them the value and impact of your OR solution.

5 Practice emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and manage your own and others' emotions, and use them to guide your behavior and communication. EI can help you improve your communication skills by enhancing your empathy, rapport, and trust with your team and your client. EI can also help you cope with stress, uncertainty, and conflict that may arise during your OR project, and maintain a positive and productive attitude. You can practice EI by being aware of your own and others' emotions, listening actively and attentively, expressing your feelings and needs clearly and respectfully, and managing your emotions and reactions effectively.