A well-functioning company is a company in which different teams and team members all easily collaborate with one another. And when that kind of successful teamwork happens, it can look so easy and organic, one might even assume that things just fell into place naturally, with no effort. But while good collaboration looks effortless, often it only comes about through multiple efforts on multiple levels. As a business owner or manager, you need to acquire the leadership skills that will allow you to facilitate that kind of teamwork. Here are some guidelines for how to master these skills and get your company running like a well-oiled machine.
The importance of collaboration.
If everyone in your company is only ever assigned to work within their own department, on their own project, they may become extremely adept at detailed work within their own professional silo but may be missing out on the opportunities that arise when teams cross over departmental borders and communicate about different projects. And this means your company is missing out, too, because creative crossover and exchange are necessary for your company to maintain a cohesive identity. Additionally, the added energy that comes from heightened collaboration can propel company growth. Without collaboration, team members may develop unhealthy workplace attitudes, too, including suspicion, resource-hoarding, and interdepartmental tensions. Click To Tweet
Start with the right people.
Part of getting your teams to work well together means choosing the right team members. So, when hiring, don’t just look at skill level and experience. Some novice professionals may be better than seasoned experts when it comes to working well with others. So don’t just look at a resume. Also, ask for references from former managers as well as colleagues, so you can get a sense of a candidate’s communication and collaboration skills. Also, remember not to confuse surface-level social charm with the actual ability to collaborate on a group project.
Create opportunities for collaboration.
Employees may not be aware that you are encouraging more collaboration if you don’t open avenues for them to do so. Encourage consultation between different teams and let different team members take turns leading meetings and discussion sessions. It can be a good idea to mix things up a little, by encouraging employees to switch up teams and projects – but be wary about doing this to a point that induces stress or burnout. An important way to encourage collaboration is to create spaces, both real and virtual, where all team members across departments interact, express concerns, ask questions, and develop good connections.
Foster a culture of communication and trust.
This is an area where you as a leader need to model the kind of culture you want to see in your workplace. You can’t cultivate communication and trust if you come off as suspicious, distrustful, unwilling to listen, and taking everything too personally. And you definitely should not be engaging in or tolerating toxic workplace behaviors like bullying or harassment. Instead, take time to get to know team members, listen when they have concerns, and be firm when it comes to not tolerating bad behavior. Be respectful to your team members, be authentic, and never ever violate anyone’s trust.
Invest in the right tools.
Encouraging collaboration is a lot easier when you make available the tools that facilitate it, such as templates, apps, and software that allow for better communication and information sharing. Employees will appreciate access to such tools, too, because it’s so much easier to work well on a project when you understand its place in the bigger picture. For instance, if your company is working on a new product, it’s helpful to create a product roadmap template so every team member can see where their task fits into the overall project of production and launch.
Remember that teamwork can’t be forced, but it can be modeled and encouraged. Do your part as an owner and manager to create the kind of workplace culture where collaboration happens, and this will pay off for all parties involved. Leaders in the food and beverage industry interested in fostering greater collaboration among team members may be interested in the coaching and mentoring programs offered by New Century Dynamics.
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Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners
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