5 Ways to Kickstart Collaboration in the Workplace

By Chris Murdock

In the workplace, success and collaboration go hand-in-hand. Working together as a team not only encourages creativity but also allows the company to work fast and more efficiently as a cohesive unit. Teamwork increases motivation and responsibility while allowing your business to form more effective strategies overall.

Collaborating in the workplace is when each individual contributes to the team. Each individual in the company is different and brings a new skill to the table when forming teams at work. as they each bring their own ideas and perspectives to the table. It’s these differences in personalities that allow companies to come up with new ideas and solve problems. Here’s a list we have created to help you implement collaboration into your workplace:

Be open to new ideas and conversations

One way to incorporate collaboration in the workplace is by listening and communicating with your coworkers. This allows for openness and the sharing of new ideas. Every member of your team is unique and has their own way of thinking. Use those diverse ideas to your advantage! No company moves forward with the same exact thought process and strategy every year. When your coworker is talking about something they are passionate about, listen to what they have to say. If they have a new idea for improving your recruiting process, offer your expertise on their idea, align their vision with company goals and work together to accomplish the dream.

It is you being open to the ideas of your coworkers and participating in a conversation with them that enforces teamwork. About 75% of employers rate teamwork and collaboration as very important. This not only creates openness in the workplace but also establishes a relationship that will benefit both you and the company.

Build and develop new relationships

Starting up a conversation with a new employee or coworker you haven’t talk to before can seem intimidating. But, it’s important to get to know the people you work with. Once you establish those relationships, you’ll be more comfortable suggesting ideas and asking questions. 54% of employees say a strong sense of community (great coworkers, celebrating milestones, a common mission) kept them at a company longer.

Beginning these relationships and keeping them going creates a feeling of togetherness in the workplace. It is important for everyone to work together without any one-sided relationships. As you build and develop relationships with the people you work with, new ideas will come to the surface and you will see a change in the efficiency of your company.

Don’t get lost in your daily tasks

Everyone has their own to-do list each day, but it’s important to ensure part of what’s on everyone’s list is taking the time to interact with each other. Nobody wants their reputation to be “the person who is too busy to take time out of their day for anyone else.” Forming relationships at work helped us succeed over the past nine years! To successfully collaborate in the workplace, you cannot keep to yourself all day.

It is important for each member of the team to be self-sufficient when the time calls for it, but it matters even more for everyone to work well with each other all the time. 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project. If everyone at the company is working together and communicating, there will be an overabundance of creativity and innovation. Employee engagement is beneficial to the culture of the company.

Be honest

Take transparency to the next level to enforce stronger relationships. This doesn’t mean every coworker has to know every detail about your life, just the ones that are relevant to the work and give your team a good idea of who you are as a person. Honesty builds loyalty. Keep your team in the loop on the state of relevant information in the business.

This helps everyone feel comfortable interacting with each other at work. It creates a positive work environment and enhances team bonding. Also, and sometimes, more importantly, being honest with your workforce creates trust. 99.1% prefer a workplace where people identify and discuss issues truthfully and effectively. All of this gives your team a glimpse of who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are, which overall benefits the team when delegating tasks.

Support your coworkers

Motivation and productivity go up when you share your ideas and opinions and support those of your coworkers. In the workplace, everyone relies on everyone, as this is how responsibilities are accomplished. 39% of surveyed employees believe that people in their own organization don’t collaborate enough. Don’t shut a teammate’s idea down, but instead offer helpful feedback.

Everyone wants to work in a positive environment, and through supporting your coworkers you are creating a place where you all want to work. The happier everyone is at work, the more that gets accomplished. You will begin to understand all the benefits of collaboration in the workplace as you maximize team effort.

There are many benefits of collaboration in the workplace, such as increased motivation and productivity. Collaborating in the workplace encourages creativity and enhances the work culture. Allowing yourself to be open to new ideas sparks up a conversation and leads to building new relationships.

Participate in meaningful conversations and develop relationships with your coworkers. Through collaborating in the workplace, you will see a boost in creativity, more efficiency and an overall return on investment.

About Chris Murdock:

Chris Murdock is the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of IQTalent Partners. Chris has over 12 years of executive recruiting experience and leads search execution and client relationships along with supporting searches across the firm. Prior to Founding IQTalent Partners, Chris was a sourcer with Yahoo!’s internal Executive Recruiting team in the corporate offices in Sunnyvale, California. Previous to Yahoo!, Chris was an Associate in the Menlo Park, California office of with Heidrick & Struggles, where he recruited for software, hardware, professional services, and semiconductor clients. 

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