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Collaboration can be crucial to idea creation and a positive work environment, but sometimes it doesn’t come naturally. Thankfully, if you haven’t done much team-building in the past, there are plenty of things you can do to increase connection at the office. Here are five ways to make collaboration an essential value at your company.
1. Create the Right Culture
Recently, statistics showed that 65% of employees feel less linked to their coworkers. This can cause meager job satisfaction in addition to making the company culture disconnected rather than synergistic. To turn this around, brainstorm a new vision for your office and pick leaders to focus on and instill collaboration in the office. When new employees are hired, make sure collaborative skills and processes are emphasized immediately. Do team-building exercises and increase office social events to allow coworkers to get to know one another under less pressure. Above all, focus on positive thinking, which enables team members to perform better and support long-term goals.
2. Increase Team Projects
If you want people to work together, assigning team projects is a great place to start. Especially after you’ve incorporated some team-building exercises, employees will feel more connected and ready to tackle a common goal efficiently. When they have an end goal in mind, they can use collaborative tools and goal setting to reach the destination quickly and competently together. For example, you can organize your project with a process map which defines goals and successes and puts tasks in order. To prepare teams for this work, consider increasing your company’s training so they are adequately prepared.
3. Enhance Communication
Communication is the key to any collaborative project, ensuring that everyone understands their role and how much progress has been made. Collaboration will prevent unnecessary task overlap while providing motivation when team members see the progress that is being made. To keep interactions optimistic, use positive body language. Maintaining eye contact and a strong, upright posture will show that you are confident and open. Keeping your arms at your side reinforces this effect.
4. Embrace Creativity
Creativity can be a significant side effect of group projects, but it can also be a goal. Companies that embrace creative thinking attract great staff and generally have more uplifting attitudes. 78% of college-educated workers over the age of 25 wish they had more creative skills, so having an innovative culture will be very attractive to candidates. One of the best ways to foster imaginative thought is by focusing on a growth mindset. A growth mindset helps people focus on improvement through challenge, making teams more resilient and more open to new solutions. Focusing on positive self-talk is a very valuable part of this, so make sure team leaders are ready to plant these seeds in the minds of their co-workers.
5. Track Results
After implementing these strategies, measure results to see what is working and what isn’t. Looking at metrics like sales increases is important, but also assess less clear-cut factors like employee satisfaction. Getting an overall picture of how effective group projects have been for the company will show you how much they have helped and what still needs to be examined.
By following some of the tips above, you will be on your way to a happier, more productive office culture. Don’t be discouraged if the office currently feels disjointed. You can turn it around with a clear vision and a constructive plan more quickly than you think.
The business + burnout workplace culture advisors at Breakfast Leadership aim to prevent employee burnout while addressing your business’s needs and concerns. Call (619) 751-0677 to learn more about how we can help!