7 Innovative Ways to Improve Collaborative Working

Although you can’t choose your co-workers, you can decide to do what you can to improve collaborative working. Keep reading for 7 of the best ways to do it.

Know Your Co-Worker’s Strengths and Weaknesses

We all come from different places – so inevitably, we’re all going to have other ideas about how to get things done. By identifying what people are good at and are not so good at, you can work out how to pair people together to make the best team.

This will help with collaborative work because you will have a better understanding of the different personalities on your team.

Determine Roles and Responsibilities

Now that you’ve analysed your team, it’s time to assign roles and responsibilities. You can do so by dividing the given project into tasks and allocating those tasks to the people who can complete them. This will empower each team member by giving them a sense of importance in the broader team.

Create an Atmosphere of Trust

Trust is the foundation of solid collaborative work. Setting realistic goals is a good starting point because it shows you can manage performance in a way that motivates the team members. Setting up these milestones will ensure that each team member understands what’s expected of them. When a team can trust each other, it’s easier to have a healthy approach to the project and admit if a mistake happens, minimising the damage.

Nurture Creativity

Encourage your employees and colleagues to question everything. Allow questions and put them in a non-judgmental framework. This will allow a unique company culture to be developed that will help your employees feel fulfilled and work better together, especially when they’re in a collaborative role.

Consider a Microsoft Teams phone system to support further your team’s creativity and collaboration (such as this example from Gamma: https://www.gamma.co.uk/products/microsoft-teams-telephony/). This system allows even remote teams to discuss projects efficiently from wherever they are.

Make the Workplace Homely

Most people spend as much time, if not more, in the workplace as at home, so making the workspace as homely as possible is vital. Encourage employees to bring items into the office to prevent them from feeling alienated or disconnected from the world. This is one of the best things you can do to ensure colleagues feel happier and more attached to their company.

Listen to Your Employees

Never underestimate the importance of employee insight. Putting an employee in a situation where they can make decisions sends a message to everyone about the company’s commitment to a responsive workplace approach—vital in ensuring that everyone can voice their opinions and collaborate as a team.

Lead by Example

As a leader in a workplace, you must support the strategies you propose, or the work will be in vain. No matter where you fall in the authority chain, lead by your example, as constructive change will affect you positively. This means communicating, compromising, and always staying open to innovative tools for better collaboration.

There you have it: 7 innovative ways to improve collaborative working in your business.