Everyone knows the value of teamwork and how important it is in the office, not only for boosting productivity but also for fostering camaraderie. However, teamwork is an art that has to be cultivated, and will not necessarily appear on its own or overnight. Some teams may pull together more effectively than others, because they have worked hard to lay the foundations for a collaborative environment.
You may be looking at your own team and wondering whether or not they are working together as efficiently as they could be, or if office politics and petty rivalries are pulling different team members in opposing directions. Read on for some helpful advice on collaboration and how to bring your team closer together.
Research has proven that team collaboration is essential for a productive business. In fact, 86% of executives revealed that poor collaboration and communication skills were major factors behind failing businesses, so not only is collaboration important, it could actually prevent your company from experiencing significant losses – or even closing down altogether.
So, how exactly do you go about assessing the quality of your team’s collaborative skills?
It’s not as difficult as it may sound. There are a few key qualities your team should be demonstrating on a regular basis if they are good collaborators. These include:
If you can see these elements in your team’s day-to-day work, then they seem to be mastering the art of effective collaboration.
If, on the other hand, you are regularly bombarded by complaints from your team members about poor communication or an atmosphere that prevents open honest discussion, then you need to put some strategies in place to help create a more harmonious workplace.
Bringing together a fragmented team may seem like a tall order, but there are a few simple but effective techniques you can use to help improve their collaboration.
Ensuring that your team can communicate easily and effectively throughout the day will really boost their collaborative mojo, particularly if some of them work remotely. There are a selection of apps that are ideal for keeping in touch and making sure you’re all on the same page. They can also foster a genuine sense of community.
Speaking of community and communication, team-building activities can be a light-hearted way of bringing your team members together. Whether you try pottery classes, sports, or a team art workshop, these activities can break down barriers and help them get to know one another in a fun but meaningful way.
Last but certainly not least, providing an efficient and convenient platform for your team to work with each day will definitely boost their collaboration levels. Consider investing in sophisticated digital asset management (DAM) software that will revolutionise the way your workplace files can be stored, uploaded, edited, and shared, to make tasks easier and more effective for your team.
To find out more about DAM and how it can help, why not get in touch with our team and arrange a one-to-one demo?
