Fostering Collaboration: Strategies for Building Stronger Teams

There’s not an organisation in the land (in my opinion, anyway) who wouldn’t benefit from creating stronger collaboration in their businesses.

Collaboration in the workplace is vital for several reasons:

1.     Enhanced Problem-Solving and Innovation: Collaboration brings together diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences, leading to more creative and innovative solutions to challenges. When employees collaborate, they can leverage each other's strengths and knowledge to generate new ideas and approaches.

2.     Improved Team Morale and Engagement: Working collaboratively fosters a sense of camaraderie and belonging among team members. When employees feel included and valued as part of a team, they are more motivated and engaged in their work, leading to higher job satisfaction and morale.

3.     Increased Productivity and Efficiency: Collaborative work environments facilitate seamless communication and coordination among team members, resulting in more efficient workflows and faster decision-making processes. By breaking down silos and promoting collaboration, organisations can streamline operations and achieve better results.

4.     Strengthened Relationships and Trust: Collaboration builds trust and strengthens relationships among team members. When employees collaborate effectively, they learn to rely on each other, share responsibilities, and support one another, creating a positive and supportive work culture.

5.     Enhanced Learning and Development: Collaborative environments provide opportunities for continuous learning and skill development. Through collaboration, employees can learn from each other, share best practices, and acquire new knowledge and expertise, contributing to their professional growth and development.

6.     Better Customer Service and Satisfaction: Collaboration extends beyond internal teams to include interactions with customers and clients. When employees collaborate across departments or functions to deliver products or services, they can better understand customer needs and preferences, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

What drives great collaboration in teams?

Simple.

Effective communication.

It’s crucial for fostering collaboration and maintaining productive relationships in the workplace.

You can enhance communication in the following ways:

1.     Active Listening:

Practice active listening by giving your full attention to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, and showing genuine interest in what they are saying. Avoid interrupting and provide verbal and non-verbal cues to demonstrate understanding, such as nodding or paraphrasing.

Most people are simply waiting their turn to talk. They aren’t really listening. If you know what you are going to say before the other person has finished talking…you aren’t listening.

2.     Clear and Concise Messaging:

Communicate your ideas clearly and concisely to ensure that your message is understood by others. Use simple language, avoid jargon, and organise your thoughts logically to convey information effectively.

People have different preferences in how they receive information. Get to know your team and ask them how they prefer to receive messages. Some people LOVE voice messages. Some hate it. Some LOVE an email, others prefer a phone call and the opportunity to ask questions.

We are not all the same!

3.     Open and Honest Communication:

Foster an environment of open and honest communication where team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, opinions, and concerns. Encourage feedback and constructive suggestions to promote transparency and trust within the team.

The trouble is, we aren’t really taught how to give decent feedback to people. If this is something you find difficult, coming from a place of kindness is a great way to start. No, it’s not fluffy. It’s the decent thing to do.

4.     Use of Communication Tools:

Leverage communication tools and platforms, such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management software, to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across teams and departments - just make sure you choose the appropriate communication channel based on the nature of the message and the preferences of the recipients.

5.     Clarify Expectations:

Clearly communicate expectations regarding roles, responsibilities, and project objectives to avoid misunderstandings and ensure alignment among team members.

This is something we come across a LOT! It’s so easy to make assumptions. We assume people understand what we were asking them to do; we assume they see the value in things the same way that we do; we assume that people will carry out a task in the same way as we would… and when this doesn’t happen, everyone else is the idiot, right?

Be clear. If someone hasn’t fully understood something, that’s not because of them. That’s because of you.

6.     Empathy and Understanding:

Practice empathy and understanding when communicating with others, especially during difficult or sensitive conversations. Put yourself in the other person's shoes, acknowledge their feelings and perspectives, and respond with empathy and compassion.

Remember, you don’t have to come up with a solution or a suggestion. In fact, it’s often better you don’t. The best way to respond to someone who has shared something with you can often be to simply thank them for telling you.

7.     Non-Verbal Communication:

Pay attention to non-verbal cues, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, as they can convey important messages and emotions. Be mindful of your own non-verbal cues and ensure that they align with your verbal communication.

And eye rolling. Stop with any eye rolling! You know who you are!

8.     Feedback and Recognition:

Provide regular feedback and recognition to acknowledge the contributions of team members and promote a culture of appreciation and support. Offer constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on performance improvement.

We don’t need sh1t sandwiches any more. Don’t try and cover up your real message by fluffing it up around the edges. That’s just confusing and comes across as insincere. Say what you mean, and be kind about it.

9. Behavioural Profiling with Everything DiSC®:

Everything DiSC® is a personal development learning experience that measures preferences and tendencies based on the DiSC® model. Receive personalised insights that deepen your understanding of self and others, making workplace interactions more enjoyable and effective. The result is a more engaged, collaborative workforce that can spark meaningful culture improvement in your organisation—whether your workforce is remote, in the office, or somewhere in between.

We LOVE using Everything DiSC® with our clients! It’s a great way to really get under the skin of the interactions in your workplace and learn about each other in a pragmatic way that you can start to build on immediately.

By implementing these effective communication techniques, you can foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and trust within your team and organisation, which will supercharge your business to new levels of improved productivity, morale, and overall success.

• Unsure where to start? Get in touch with us today and we can have a free, no-obligation chat.

• Want to know how your team are actually feeling? Take our engagement survey and know what’s really going on and how to fix it.