The cooperation between people in the process of accomplishing a task is what gets work done effectively. When team collaboration becomes the foundation of any project, it’s truly amazing to see how the results are impacted. Any workplace or online workspace that encourages a collaborative spirit (whether teammates are remote or in the same location) makes for an environment that facilitates success.
Working together to apply collaboration skills and focus on teamwork training enables all members of the department, team or crew to work together powerfully. By removing the silos, the output of work becomes multi-faceted. Distributing the workload amongst resources or establishing how the flow of work will unfold as a collective enables improved teamwork to make things run more smoothly.
Here’s why teamwork and collaboration make a positive and professional impact.
At the heart of team collaboration and team effectiveness lies successful communication. In order to accomplish anything, the sending and receiving of messages must be thoughtfully crafted and executed.
When we’re spending hours a day working on a project with teammates brainstorming, hashing out details, and pulling down abstract ideas into reality, the only way to do so is by establishing teamwork processes that ensure everyone is seen, heard, and understood. Otherwise, how else will you get from point a to point b?
Here are some key performance indicators of a team built for success:
These skills are brought in by each individual on the team. Interpersonal skills stand as a “contribution” to the collective. Even if a teammate exudes shyness or remains discreet, they can still add to the group dynamic in other ways. Perhaps this person is lowkey, but as a result, is laser-focused and can produce highly detailed technical work. On the other hand, someone who is more outgoing and charming might be better suited to facilitate group events or be a director.
Conversely, lacking interpersonal skills also plays a huge role in group dynamics. When a colleague comes across as demeaning or domineering, this energy will affect others on the team. It’s possible that a team member will feel less likely to share or open up when they feel judged or condescended to. This could create friction and not be considered as a form of “healthy collaboration.”
A collaborative environment thrives when the approach to communication is wide open, meaning every employee is given a chance to speak. No one should feel awkward or uncomfortable about seeking advice, asking for help, or sharing an educated opinion. When a solution is needed, questions should be asked and answered to the best of the team or collaborative leader’s ability. Together, a solution can be reached.
Increased collaboration begins to take form when managers seek to improve teamwork starting with themselves. They can create a safe and secure “nest” that promotes collaborative work when they set the tone for everyone to follow. For example, a manager, superior or leader can open the conversation when they share their own journey or private struggle. By asking the team for advice and showing their own vulnerability, everyone is invited to go a little deeper and share their point of view.
It can be as courageous as sharing a grave mistake made on the job that turns into a teachable moment or as simple as sharing a photo that was taken on the weekend.
Furthermore, open communication becomes even more enhanced when the corporate culture is a priority. Cultivate a sense of camaraderie through virtual hangouts, team lunches, celebratory happy hours, a break room with games, etc.
Without feedback, there is no growth. Arguably one of the most critical aspects of collaboration, thoughtful feedback is an indication of how comfortable and caring teammates are with each other.
There are times when we all need a cheerleader. “Great idea! Explore it further!” Other times, we need to be a little more critical. “Excellent start, but have you considered how it will unfold if X affects Y and Y is dependant on Z?”
When both the sender and receiver of feedback understand the role of constructive criticism that builds rather than tears down, successful collaboration is imminent. Seeing the value of a teammate’s perspective and support rather than taking things personally works to create a strong and unshakable feedback loop.
Strong leadership provides a container for the team to function at full speed. Proper management gives individuals boundaries to work within and creates a structure that promotes collaboration and ownership. People want to produce good work and be proud of it. With guidance, minimal micromanagement, and trust, a team leader will know who can do what, what each individual’s strengths and weaknesses are, and be able to delegate their crew to get them to hone in on their skills to pull off a project.
When something goes wrong (and one day, it will), in order to maintain a constant feeling of collaboration, it’s important to instill the need for personal accountability. Sure it might seem as though the team as a whole would take the hit, however, when individuals step in to address the problem personally, it absolves others from feeling responsible. True team players take a little less credit and little more ownership. Accountability is the glue that keeps things moving, plus it allows people to take pride in their work by motivating people to do their best.
The potential for effective teamwork is exponentially increased when everyone pools their time, skills, resources, and expertise – results are maximized when people work in numbers.
But when the dynamic is full of distrust, intolerance, poor communication and no end goal in sight, it’s these conditions that make for a less than ideal work environment:
It’s simple – good communication! Here’s how to really push it and drive it home:
Opting for video conferences instead of calls; presenting presentations that “show instead of tell”using screen sharing; and encouraging everyone in the meeting to say something are all small ways of tightening how communication is approached and directed.
Collaboration is important because it is a blending of everyone’s collective experiences. And when expressed using technology that empowers communication, the result is usually very rewarding.
Two-way communication software such as conference calling and video conferencing opens up new pathways for thoughts, interactions and ideas to interplay with each other to create meaningful connections and work.
Collaboration gives way to problem-solving, provides a container for innovation to incubate, shows a more holistic view of the bigger picture, spikes skill-sharing, and aligns remote teams.
At the end of the day, a key indicator of solid collaboration is that the end goal shared by everyone is their commitment to getting any project or task off the ground. The quality of work, the passion behind the project, the process of making an abstract idea concrete – these should be the motivating factors that lead to success.
When everyone on the collaboration team is headed in the same direction, the end result becomes clear – especially when the team has seen the project grow from start to finish.
Let FreeConference be the multi-faceted video conferencing collaborative tool for your team to connect and join forces. Beyond video conferencing and conference calling, teams get to experience ultimate collaboration using screen sharing, online whiteboard, document sharing, and more while engaged in conferences in real-time. Enjoy heightened teamwork that makes the dream work!
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