How to Encourage Collaboration in the Workplace
Charles Darwin once explained that in the long history of evolution, individuals who were able to improvise and collaborate very effectively were able to survive. Promoting collaborative work is the best way to easily achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Let’s see how you can foster collaborative work within your company.
Have clear and precise goals & Distribute responsibilities properly
Each person has their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, a team must be made up of complementary employees. For the assignment of tasks, not only skills but also temperament traits must be taken into account. You must have clear and precise goals for the team and the business.
With a diverse team, each member brings ideas, skills, experiences and knowledge. This covers a very broad spectrum, which promotes more efficient decision-making.
Promote a collaborative environment
The team must visualize itself as a whole. It must forget the antagonisms and work towards common goals. To promote joint work, principles that identify them as a single entity must be established.
It is necessary, from the beginning, to establish very clear rules which refer to the responsibilities and the rights of each individual within the team. These rules must also specify the functions and tasks, delivery times, work methodology, etc.
Maintain open communication with teams
Communication and feedback are key to achieving any goal. A record should be kept and all members should be informed of daily progress.
With new technologies, it is very easy to have agile communication to inform team members in real-time of any subject requiring immediate attention. Changes to the project, detection of breakdowns, unforeseen events, internal conflicts, and even congratulations for a good result, everything is taken into account.
Build trust for better collaborative work
Trust is built over time, as projects are developed and goals are achieved. In the beginning, it is important to motivate the team so that each member trusts the abilities of the others.
To do this, you must allow all members to complete their work and participate. The most valuable thing a team can develop that undeniably promotes productivity is trust and respect.
Promote the sense of belonging
The feeling of belonging is essential to obtain a real commitment to the project, taking for granted the success of the company. Employees gain a sense of identity when they feel their work is valued.
A loyal team works with interest, and responsibility and, as a result, increases its productivity at work. Not only successes are shared, but also failures, which increases the level of overall satisfaction and reduces stress. Acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of each employee and communicate how you can support each other.
Create communication channels
The most important point to fostering a culture of collaborative work within the company is to create effective communication channels. It sounds obvious, but many companies forget: to collaborate, you need to talk to each other.
However, at this stage, precautions must be taken. Talking does not mean having long daily meetings in which much is said and little is decided. The ideal is to create fast and efficient chains. The stand-up meeting is a great example to follow.
Have an open plan space with glass partitions — creating “overlap zones”
Glass splashbacks are being used more and more frequently in office conversions because the advantages of a glass partition wall are simply unbeatable. The extraordinary influence of light on all areas of life is emphasized in all cultures. More light can also result in more productivity.
You can create transparency, openness and brightness in your offices, business premises, practice or living area and benefit from sound insulation in addition to the generous room transparency. All these can ultimately help your office become a collaborative space.
Encourage socialisation outside of work
Companies that enjoy the benefits of engaged people understand that people are their greatest asset. Determine the responsibilities of your employees and think of initiatives that will make it easier for them to balance work and family. Encourage them to balance effort with socializing and togetherness. Promoting the sharing of ideas, suggestions and opportunities for improvement outside of a workplace, for example, at a club or a party can bring you great benefits.
To foster collaborative work, team members must be assigned defined individual and collective responsibilities. When he has a clear understanding of his position, each member of the team will work more efficiently. And he won’t step on another person’s toes to create conflict. In a collaborative environment, each team member feels what it means to participate in the shared responsibility for results.
