Collaboration is often presented as a nice-to-have in a team. It is perceived as a mood-booster. In reality, collaboration is a central element of productivity. So, a lot of businesses are actively on the lookout for collaboration-enhancing tools, from project management software to meeting scheduling tools.
But effective collaboration requires a thorough understanding of workplace psychology, rather than just plugging the right tool in. What difference does it truly make? According to research, companies that have been strengthening collaboration between team members with effective and easily actionable measures have been able to improve their overall productivity by almost 40%. This shows the importance of putting the human side at the heart of teamwork strategies.
Ultimately, strong collaboration develops through trust, comfort, communication, and shared experiences, more than through using the same software solution.
Making People Feel Comfortable
Employees are more willing to contribute ideas when the environment feels welcoming and low-pressure. On the other hand, rigid communication structures and highly stressful workplaces discourage participation and collaboration.
When employees feel safe speaking openly, this can encourage more open conversations and creative thinking. So, this message needs to come from the leader down as well as through measures dedicated to reducing workplace stress.
More often than not, untrained managers try to establish a culture of collaboration only to turn down every new idea. This gradually damages the desire to collaborate, as well as the trust in the company. That’s why the starting point for every effective collaboration strategy is building a comfortable atmosphere with no stress.
Informal Interactions
Some of the strongest workplace communication happens outside formal meetings. Casual conversations before presentations or during breaks tend to help employees build trust and understand each other’s working style more effectively.
Where does casual conversation happen? You need to create a culture for friendly exchange and breaks, where people can interact with each other freely. Additionally, these interactions can also help people get to know each other better, which means they are more comfortable asking questions or pointing out potential issues in projects.
In modern offices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make time for informal catch-ups, especially in a high-meeting culture. So, it’s crucial to remember the role of breaks and keep unnecessary meetings to an email.
Shared Experiences
Shared experiences are another important part of workplace collaboration. But it’s important to understand that sitting at a desk next to each other doesn’t count as a shared experience. Instead, you want to look into workshops, brainstorming sessions, or even team lunches, which create opportunities for employees to interact in more relaxed ways.
Many companies are using professional office catering in a post-pandemic world to encourage employees to come to the office and spend time IRL with each other. Catering options are popular during meetings, training sessions, and other workshops that stretch over several hours. Ultimately, a shared meal tends to encourage conversation and lead to a more convivial atmosphere.
Some offices, when catering is not an option, opt for a shared coffee break where the team gets together for a few minutes around a cup of joe. This is as much about sharing time together as creating solid foundations for psychological safety in the workplace.
At the end of the day, workplace collaboration is shaped by the people rather than the office tooling. There are tools that can be helpful to keep collaborative efforts organized, but they do not start the desire to collaborate.