Collaboration is a skill that every workforce needs to reach success. However, business leaders may notice this is something lacking in their workplaces. Leaving them to ask, is there anything I can do to improve this? The good news is you can enhance collaboration between your employees, and this guide will show you how. Below – are eight things all business leaders can do to encourage collaboration and improve workplace culture.
Recognise Hard Work
Owning a business is certainly complex, and there often may feel like there is not enough time in the day to talk to your employees. Unfortunately, this can make them feel unheard, and their hard work is underappreciated. Shocking statistics show that almost two-thirds of workers in the UK feel like they are not heard equally at work. It is time to actively change this by rewarding hard work. Recognition not only helps your employees feel appreciated, but it can also improve productivity and encourage collaboration. It gives your employees confidence in their roles, encouraging them to help others. Recognition can be something as simple as a “thank you”, or you could invest in an employee reward and recognition programme. This will depend on the budget that your company has.
Create An Inviting Workplace Culture
Workplace culture should represent how your employees treat one another. Ideally, you want to create an inviting workplace culture that not only makes your organisation an enjoyable place to work – but also encourages other talented candidates to join your workforce in the future. So, how do we go about this when collaboration is at an all-time low? Firstly, managers need to become more accessible to staff. If they feel like their voice is heard, this can improve productivity. Creating an inclusive environment is also crucial. Don’t hesitate to welcome people from different backgrounds. Interacting with your teams is also essential. Ask them how the workplace can improve to make it a more comfortable environment for them. It shows your team that you care and encourages them to speak up about how the workplace can be improved moving forward.
Encourage Socialisation Outside Of Working Hours
Your employees may struggle to work collaboratively due to a lack of confidence. If your team do not feel comfortable with one another, they may be hesitant to communicate while at work. Therefore, encouraging socialisation outside of working hours can be a good idea. This can be anything from a team-building event to a meal out. You will notice that outside of a work setting, people feel a lot more comfortable with one another. Rather than talking about work, they can get to know each other on a more personal level. It helps bring teams closer together, which will also help you create an inviting workplace culture – as discussed in this article. It also helps employees feel appreciated by their managers as they make time for them.
Give Employees Constructive Feedback
If business leaders feel like collaboration is lacking within their workforce, they may need to give their employees some encouragement on what they can do to improve this. Taking time to provide constructive feedback to your team can give them the guidance they need to work more collaboratively. They may need to engage in a team-building activity to feel comfortable with one another, or you might find that they require tools to help them work more collaboratively. For example, you can find an easy to use conversion tool online, which allows your employees to edit text directly within a file. This means PDFs can be easily turned into word documents, making daily tasks much easier. A tool like this can help your team work together on projects a lot more efficiently, which is ideal for collaborative working.
Delegate Roles And Set Expectations
If business leaders want collaboration to become a top priority, they need to communicate this to their employees. For some of your employees, this might be a new environment to work in. So, they need clear expectations outlined – and roles delegated to understand what they can do to contribute successfully. One of the best ways to do this is by conducting a weekly meeting. This doesn’t have to be anything too complex that takes up a lot of time; it can be something as simple as a quick team meeting at the start of the week to ensure everyone knows what is expected of them. It also gives your employees an opportunity to ask any questions if they are concerned about the prospect of collaborative working.
Implement The Use Of Technology
Workplace models have changed a lot in recent years. One trend that has sorn in popularity is hybrid working. Now, employees can work a few days in the office, then remotely on other days. This gives employees a healthier work-life balance, which can have many positive effects, like improved workplace satisfaction. However, with some employees in the office and others at home, how do you make sure collaboration remains a priority? The solution is collaboration tools. A quick Google search will show you a list of the best collaboration tools currently available. These allow your employees to communicate with one another, regardless of where they are working that day. So, productivity is not affected.
Explore Hot Desking
The nature of traditional offices is changing. Now, it is not unheard of for employees not to have their own designated desks. Let’s face it, dictating where your employees sit feels like we have gone back to school days. Instead, hot desking has grown in popularity. This is a trend that says goodbye to assigned seating. Instead, your employees can seek comfort in any open spaces located around the office. Business leaders will find this improves productivity – and encourages collaboration as employees are more likely to move around and interact with different people daily. You can learn more about the benefits of hot desking online. It may seem like a simple tactic, but it can completely transform the way your employees collaborate for the foreseeable.
Plan Meetings
For your employees, there is nothing worse than sitting in a meeting that takes up too much time. Rather than holding meetings for a box-ticking exercise, business leaders should be taking time to plan them more effectively. Everyone who attends the meeting should actively contribute in some way. This will work wonders for collaboration, but it will also make your meetings more productive. It also means that every employee in attendance has the chance to speak, which can make them feel heard. With planned meetings, companies don’t have to worry about losing out on precious time, which not only affects the productivity of the business – but can also make them lose money in the process.
Summary
Using collaborative tools, fostering an inviting workplace culture, and exploring hot desking trends are ways that business leaders can encourage collaboration in the workplace. The important thing to remember is your employees need guidance. For many, the thought of collaboration can be daunting. However, with clear expectations set in place – and roles delegated, they are given direction on what they need to do. Welcoming feedback from your employees can also be helpful. Work with your team to build a comfortable work environment, and you will soon find your employees will collaborate with ease.