No one can do everything alone, and the best businesses know how to collaborate effectively. Whether you're working with clients, suppliers, or team members, collaboration is a major key to success. Collaboration is more than just working together on a task. It's about building relationships, sharing information, and establishing trust.
The Evolved Workplace
The modern workplace is a global landscape. With teams spread out all over the world, it's essential to learn how to collaborate effectively. Whether being in different time zones, or even in different buildings, a team can be successful if they learn to work together.
Having a sense of established trust allows any team to be more likely to open up with their ideas and suggestions. In this guide, we will discuss the basics of effective collaboration and offer tips for making it work well for your business.
There are a few key things you can do to help your team collaborate effectively:
- Establish clear goals and objectives. When everyone is on the same page, it's easier to work together toward a common goal.
- Use communication tools that work for everyone. Whether it's video conferencing, chat software, or email, make sure the tools you're using are effective for your team
- Foster a culture of collaboration. Encourage team members to share ideas and work together towards a common goal.
Setting Goals for Your Team
Working as a team can be challenging, especially if your business is growing rapidly or you collaborate frequently with people from different backgrounds and skill sets. To successfully collaborate as a team, it's important to set clear goals and expectations upfront, communicate consistently so everyone is informed of what's being worked on and when it will be completed, and make sure that everyone involved feels comfortable voicing their opinions in a respectful way.
One of the best ways to facilitate effective collaboration is to overcommunicate. By providing regular updates on project status, sharing work-in-progress drafts for feedback, and asking questions promptly whenever you need clarification on something, you can minimize confusion and ensure that everything runs smoothly. You may also wish to use collaboration tools such as shared calendars, feedback platforms, and video conferencing to keep everyone on the same page.
Resolve Conflict Before It's Too Late
Even the best teams will experience conflict from time to time. When you're working with people who are spread out all over the world, it's essential to have a plan for how to deal with conflict. Here are a few tips for resolving conflict in a remote team:
Talk it out:
The first step in resolving any conflict is to talk to the other person about what's going on. This can be done through chat software, email, or even over the phone.
Be honest and open:
It's important to be honest and open with your team members when you're dealing with conflict. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that no one feels like they're being ignored or attacked.
Stay calm and constructive:
When discussing conflict, it's important to stay calm and constructive. Yelling, name-calling, or attacking the other person will only make things worse.
Listen carefully and be respectful:
When the other person is speaking, make sure you're listening carefully and that you're not interrupting them. Be respectful of their feelings and opinions, even if you don't agree with them.
Be 100% sure you manage conflict in a constructive way. If you or one of your team members find yourself feeling frustrated or misunderstood, it's important to address the issue head-on instead of letting it fester and negatively impact your work. Approachable leaders who remain calm and positive even in tense situations can help resolve conflicts quickly and effectively.
Additionally, if you notice that someone on your team is experiencing burnout or feels overwhelmed by their workload, make sure to offer them support and guidance rather than expecting them to work through it alone. Overall, when collaborating as a team, remember that teamwork means working together for shared goals—not competing with one another.
Make Standup Meetings Effective and Efficient
Standup meetings are a great way for team members who are located in different parts of the world to get together and share updates. They're typically short, lasting no more than 10-15 minutes, which makes them an ideal format for teams that are constantly on the go. In a standup meeting, each participant takes turns reporting on what they've been working on since the last meeting and what they plan to do before the next one. This allows everyone to stay up-to-date on project progress and catch any potential roadblocks before they become a problem.
If your team isn't located in the same place, you can still use communication tools like video conferencing or chat platforms to stay connected. By setting aside time each day or week for everyone to check in with one another, you'll minimize the chances of misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is always up-to-date on what's happening.
Gather Feedback from Your Team
In order to create an effective and cohesive remote team, it's important to gather feedback from your team members on a regular basis. This can be done through surveys or one-on-one meetings in which you ask for their opinions on different aspects of the team's work—such as what tools they're using, how often they're communicating with one another, and what types of projects they're working on. You can also solicit feedback from team members who aren't currently working on specific projects to get a broader picture of how everyone is feeling about the work you're doing as a team.
Ultimately, gathering feedback from your team allows you to identify strengths and weaknesses, address any issues in a timely manner, and make changes that will promote better collaboration moving forward.
What's The Takeaway?
It's to be honest and open, stay calm and constructive, listen carefully and be respectful, and gather feedback from team members on a regular basis. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team.
Download a FREE copy of our communication skills cheat sheet for more in-depth learning about effective collaboration:
We’ve included 2 versions of the cheat sheet: a notecard-sized version to keep by your desk, and a letter-sized version to refer to on your devices or print out.
Actively listening and communicating with your team members creates an environment of effective collaboration. Follow these guidelines and watch the growth that creates a positive and successful workplace.
