Creating a Collaborative Workplace, and Why it Matters

Article Written By: Emma Grace Brown

When you own a business, it’s important that your employees work together. Teamwork makes the dream work after all, right? So, one of the best ways to facilitate such a workplace culture is by creating a collaborative workplace! Collaboration is one of the most important tools that any manager or business owner can have in their toolbox. Learn all about making your workplace more collaborative, and why it matters, as shared by Thrive HR Consulting below.

Why Do I Need a Collaborative Workplace?

Collaboration can be done in a number of different ways. In fact, collaboration may be defined differently depending on who you ask. What doesn’t change, though, are the benefits that you get from fostering a collaborative work environment.

When you encourage collaboration in your staff, you’ll see many, if not all, of the benefits listed below:

●       Improved problem-solving skills

●       Closer working relationships among your staff members

●       Continuous education among coworkers

●       Improved communication

●       Higher employee retention rates

All of these things are easily achieved by businesses that promote collaboration within their work environments. But how do you improve collaboration? And does it work in every business? Well, collaboration is definitely achievable regardless of the business you’re running. It’s just about how you approach it.

Improving Collaboration in Your Company

If you’re trying to improve collaboration in your company, there are some simple things you can do to encourage it.

By doing the following things, you’ll be able to foster workplace collaboration with ease!

Use the Right Technology

Collaboration these days is highly dependent upon having the right tech and software at your disposal. This is especially true when you’ve got employees in the office and at home. Make sure you have tools like Zoom and Slack at the ready.

This will help your teams communicate more effectively.

Create a Culture of Open Communication

Being able to communicate openly is one of the best ways to create a collaborative workplace. But how do you encourage open communication? As a manager or a business owner, it’s important to lead your staff in such a way that they feel they can speak to you openly while still being work-appropriate. This can be done when you remember the following phrases:

●       Maintain an optimistic attitude

●       Encourage employees instead of discouraging them

●       Make them feel like success is possible when working together

●       Be demanding, but never demeaning

If you can treat your employees this way, you’ll find that collaboration comes naturally. We’re all part of the same team.

Reward Teamwork and Collaborative Efforts

When you reward your employees for working together, you’re encouraging them to act in a more collaborative way. Before you can reward collaboration, though, you have to set it up. Be sure to create opportunities for collaboration by creating projects that require your employees to work together. Then, when they accomplish their goals, be sure to reward them for it. They’ll start wanting to work together more often that way.

Collaboration Helps Everyone

Working together is an important part of running a business. You’ll need to collaborate with your employees, and encourage them to collaborate with one another. When this happens, your company is sure to see more success and run much more smoothly. Make sure that you are fostering a collaborative workplace so that you can enjoy the benefits of teamwork, too!

Thrive HR Consulting is comprised of a team of dedicated, experienced HR professionals who can help your business through C-level coaching and consultation. Click here to learn more about the services we provide.