Collaboration is the ability to improve close knit communication, business relationships and bridge gaps between departments, sectors and sections in the workplace. It is an important part of effective management and are as crucial as the vital parameters of the human body. It is indicative of the health of an organization. Unlike many of the abstract and subtle principles, collaboration is pretty straight-forward. All organizations realize its importance, yet struggle to sow the seeds for effective collaboration.
Why the struggle?
- Getting team members to know each other better
- Motivating team members to thrive for in-house success
- Increasing communication within departments and employees
These challenges keep evolving and growing as businesses expand, transcending geographic, cultural and social barriers.
Why the need?
- To cope with today’s dynamic, demanding workplace culture by providing access to people and information they need to do their jobs
- This, in turn, creates a positive company culture, in which people are encouraged to ask for, and to provide, help
Why collaboration tools are not being used effectively?
Albeit the amazing benefits that companies have to benefit from collaboration, you may find out that most companies lack collaboration; for reasons that seem obscure and hard to fathom. Let us call a spade, a spade and work through the barriers.
- The ‘unhealthy competition syndrome’: Employees fear being overpowered by peers and try to keep crucial information private. This destroys the idea of collaboration and transparency
- Inadequate employee/client rapport: Collaboration techniques and tools will be relatively ineffective where there is no adequate platform or opportunity for employees to connect with clients and establish that rapport.
- The inadequacy of established principles and techniques: Some companies just do not know how to get it right; many of them want to improve collaboration and cooperation but they have not set down or applied the right methods to do so!
- Ambiguity in the company’s collaboration goals: Where there is an unclear vision, misdirection and confusion are inevitable. Set your vision and prioritize your goals. This is the first step to achieve effective collaboration.
Methods to increase collaboration at the workplace -
- Team Building games.
- Usage of a team collaboration portal.
- Improving Employee Communication.
- Leading by example.
- Building Trust.
- Encouraging people to socialize outside work.
- Aligning a shared vision and purpose.
- Fostering friendships via teamwork .
- Diversifying the work space.
- Leveraging a corporate social network.
- Using an employee engagement platform.
Effective Collaboration Tools:
Here are some effective tools and techniques that you can employ to improve collaboration in your company:
- Identification of a SMART collaboration goal: This is a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and set to be achieved within a Time frame.
- Creating platforms for collaboration: Create a diversity and create projects that employ members from various departments.
- Organizing dinners and banquets to ease up tension and encourage staff to communicate in a casual setting.
- Awarding the department that showed the best collaboration.
In short, the success mantra - “Collaborate and celebrate!”