Team collaboration in the workplace is the key to success in our ever-changing world. Every day we face new and unpredictable challenges. Whether you are a small start-up or a large corporation, there are many benefits to engaging with other minds.
Why should you encourage team collaboration?
Cultivating a culture of team collaboration begins with leaving your ego at the door. To be the best today, we need to react in a quick but informed manner. No matter how much knowledge you have, no single person has all the right answers or a crystal clear perspective. That’s why working together is so important. Whether you’re sharing your talents and knowledge with your team or your suppliers, when you pool your collective expertise, everyone wins.
The benefits in a nutshell
- Staff retention
- Increased job satisfaction
- Innovation
- Quicker problem solving
- Increased profitability
3 ways to promote team collaboration in your organisation
1. Host brainstorming sessions
You know what they say – two heads are better than one. Bouncing your thoughts off your teammates is often the best way to flesh out a great idea. Brainstorming sessions need to be a safe space where there is no such thing as a bad idea. These sessions are suitable for a variety of needs, such as streamlining processes, solving complex problems or planning innovative campaigns.
2. Invest in effective collaboration tools
Tools such as video communication make it easy for organisations to come together, as long as they suit the needs of your team and type of work. Training your staff and suppliers to use these tools is essential as well. At Brand Candy we make use of Trello for our project planning.
3. Reward success
Everyone loves a shoutout for a job well done. It’s important to give regular public recognition to individuals and teams for their successful collaborative efforts. Offering financial rewards, where applicable, also goes a long way. After all, team collaboration often ends up saving your organisation time – and time is money.
Are you following all the right steps?
So, what do you think? Easy peasy, right? Well, not exactly. Building a culture of collaboration comes from the top down. All staff and suppliers need to feel a sense of cohesion, that they are all working towards a common goal. Individuals also need to be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. Having too many communication tools is just as bad as not having any. Implement standard platforms and revise their effectiveness regularly.
Keep these potential barriers in mind:
- Negative mindsets
- Poor self-analysis
- Lack of, or too many communication tools
Are you collaborating with the right people?
Team collaboration is only the first step to running a successful business. You also need to establish productive working relationships with suppliers too. If you’re looking to collaborate with a creative marketing team to take your brand to the next level, give us a call or fill in our online quote form. We can’t wait to brainstorm with you!