COLLABORATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS (2024)

In layman's terms, collaboration is when two or more individuals come together to find a solution to a common problem. At workplaces, collaboration may be working on a project or an assignment together, that may be difficult for one person to deliver.

Efficient collaboration in the workplace is a sign of an effective team as it harnesses the best of two or more individuals. Increasing demands on and by the workforce have forced many organizations to adjust and relook at workplace collaboration.

Importance of Workplace Collaboration

When a team tackles a large project, working solo may result in isolated decisions, duplication, and slow progress. It is, therefore, vital to have all hands on the deck – especially with varied expertise from different departments. This is critical to achieving targets on time as there is improved communication, increased success, and more innovation.

Collaboration is the foundation of any workplace. It is not only essential to overall work success but also to build efficient teams that continue to work together even after a certain target is achieved.

It is important for organizations to let their employees own their responsibilities. In a collaborative setup, it becomes necessary for team members to own their responsibilities and work in sync with others. This, in turn, helps drive personal growth.

The exchange of ideas is another important factor in a collaborative workspace. It acts as a multiplier of innovative ideas leading to a strategy that helps achieve targets in an efficient manner.

How to Ace a Collaborative Approach at Work

A strategy goes a long way to build a well-synched workspace. The following can be employed to implement a collaborative approach successfully:

1. Set measurable goals: Clearly defined goals with comfortable deadlines encourage every member of the team to put their best foot forward. If the first member meets the deadline, it will only become easier for the next to meet theirs.
2. Organize processes: As a leader, it is upon you to set an example. Demonstrating how fruitful it is to work together must be practiced, not preached. If you set the process right at the very beginning, your team will feel comfortable implementing it.
3. Diversity and inclusion: Diverse perspectives generate innovative ideas. It is beneficial for an organization if the leader sets fair company policies that value inclusivity and ensure all employees adhere to the guidelines.
4. Information sharing: The very basis of collaboration at workplaces is information sharing. Leaders have to be forthcoming in sharing information they think will provide the necessary push to employees. You can create a list of resources, contacts, and important reminders to help teams navigate their planning and organization stages.

Using a collaborative approach, businesses can pre-identify a crisis and avert it. When you make collaboration a priority, your team knows the processes and methods at hand and is better equipped to streamline remedies and identify teammates who can help.

As workplaces place a higher value on employee engagement as a metric for success, it is necessary to foster a collaborative environment for better engagement.