Better mental health and well being in the workplace in 2024
Many individuals and organizations recognize that their workplace utilizes collaborative practices. However, the reality is that collaboration can be challenging.
Individuals in an organization often have their communication preferences, strengths and weaknesses, and personal goals. The company culture itself can promote or inhibit collaborative behavior.
When collaboration is low in an organization, it can result in
- failed projects or goals
- incomplete goals
- wasteful workplace practices
- Lack of Leading Innovation
- unhappy and unproductive employees
- hostile work environment
Top 10 Collaborative Skills
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Communication
Clear communication can be challenging; however, sharing your perspective is essential so your knowledge and expertise can inform your colleagues.
Communication occurs in three specific ways:
Written communication can be difficult because a lot of nonverbal communication can be lost when doing written communication. It is good to be mindful of the language and tone used. Ensure your written communication is clear, concise, and free of errors. If it’s time-sensitive, be sure to specify a time constraint, so the recipient is aware.
Verbal – What you say to your coworkers is important, and how you say it is just as important. You should share your opinion or point of view as clearly and concisely as possible, but you should do so respectfully and be mindful that opinions may differ.
Nonverbal communication: Some people don’t understand that nonverbal communication can tell others a lot about how you feel about a topic and that it affects your communication. Pay attention to your tone, body language, and facial expressions, as the same word delivered using different nonverbal communication can have two different meanings.
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Listening and Comprehension
Listening and understanding are just as important as communication, if not more so. This goes beyond hearing (or reading) the words your coworkers say.
Listen with empathy and without judgment, and make sure you understand what your coworker is trying to say and clarify if necessary.
It’s important to remember that workplaces are diverse; people specialize in different subjects and have different communication styles.
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Respect diversity
Our economy is global, so your associates may be from other countries and cultures.
For collaboration to be successful, it is important that all collaborators in an organization feel included and can participate in open communication, and have trust and respect.
Any underlying biases you may hold should be reflected upon and changed.
You should also ensure that other coworkers do not exhibit behavior or make decisions based on discrimination or prejudice and do not take note of any hostile actions.
Collaborative environments that respect diversity includes:
- building and managing expectations
- Facilitating and encouraging group discussions
- sensitivity to ethnic and religious background
- encourage open communication
- capitalizing on each person’s strengths and making sure to listen to the ideas of all team members
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Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Empathy and emotional intelligence will allow you to identify, understand, and manage your emotions, recognize when a coworker is upset, and respond appropriately.
The coworker may have an outside problem that you need to listen to, they may need a break, or they may be having some difficulty completing a task.
Similarly, an emotionally intelligent partner can empathize with and support you if you need support.
A work environment where coworkers are emotionally intelligent and show compassion will allow coworkers to support each other and work together, creating a more positive workplace.
Other benefits of emotional intelligence are that you don’t get angry too quickly and don’t take criticism and feedback too personally.
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Conflict Resolution
Conflicts can be challenging no matter where and how they occur, especially in the workplace. Unresolved disputes between colleagues can stall a project.
A collaborative workplace has a lot of skills and qualities that can help problem-solving individuals resolve any disputes quickly by following a few simple steps, such as:
- Communicate and listen to each other to understand the issue
- respect each other
- Be willing to problem solve and find solutions
- Be accountable and own up to mistakes
- analyze the issue without blaming
- Make compromises as needed so the group can reach an agreed resolution.
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Open-minded
People only sometimes want to share their views publicly because they are concerned about how their contribution will be perceived.
Someone open-minded and curious will thrive in this environment, while someone who is a little more resistant to new ideas and change may find it difficult and stall the process.
Leadership must encourage an open environment, open to brainstorming, and all opinions must be put forth and given an equal opportunity to be heard, critiqued, and expanded upon.
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Knowledge-Sharing and Debates
Be open to sharing knowledge and debating ideas and processes.
Employees often get stuck in their organizational silos, hindering collaboration and growth.
A collaborative work environment encourages and rewards knowledge-sharing and productive debate of ideas because it drives innovation and productivity. Individuals understand their team members’ characteristics and the value each brings to the company.
A debate among coworkers leads to constructive criticism, ultimately improving the project and ultimately increasing profits.
Leaders must take care that no employee takes any criticism personally and ensure that the debate is always on the job.
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Organizing and delegating
Collaboration works best when it is organized and delegated, and the processes and responsibilities are a part of regular duties.
It could be clearer and more convenient if tasks and responsibilities were constantly coordinated and reassigned. This can result in less responsibility and accountability.
If you are leading a project or task, delegating tasks based on knowledge, skills, and expertise is a useful collaborative skill. By spreading work tasks to a wide range of people, you ensure that the job gets done well, people feel important and needed, and don’t feel overworked.
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Agility and Adaptability
It a truly collaborative work, and its employees adapt to change. Projects sometimes go according to plan, and there can be unexpected delays, changes in priorities, funding problems, etc.
The ability to ‘think on your feet’ and adapt quickly to change comes with practice.
The best way to adapt to unexpected change is to calmly communicate with coworkers and brainstorm ideas and solutions to the problem.
Sometimes the need for adaptability results in innovation, ultimately the key to maintaining a competitive edge. New ideas and out-of-the-box thinking lead to better results and more positive employees.
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View the Big Picture
Seeing the end goal of a collaborative effort and bringing everyone together is a valuable collaborative skill. What one person sees as necessary is different for all.
If you keep your eye on the big picture, leveraging multiple areas of expertise will get you faster and better results.
Teaching and learning from each other will also motivate employees because it makes them feel valued and secure in the role, making it easier to work together.
Why good collaboration can be challenging
Collaboration is the ability to work together with someone to accomplish a task or produce something.
While organizations are very comfortable with teamwork, individuals in an organization often continue to work independently rather than working together to accomplish something.
Many organizations still have managers and leaders who control and closely manage workflow, which, unfortunately, results in vertical communication rather than horizontal communication.
This work environment focuses on completing a task or project rather than on relationships with other employees, leading to a lack of colaboration.
Some common challenges to collaboration include:
- lack of trust and respect
- avoiding honest communication
- fear of conflict
- poor listening and interpersonal skills
- lack of clarity and alignment
- different mindset
- Reduction in knowledge and organizational silos
Isolation between departments and teams leads to information hoarding.
Many workplaces currently operate with high levels of internal competition where employees vie for promotion and with limited financial resources.
Many industries and workplaces need to foster a culture that allows people to get to know each other or their strengths and expertise. As a result, they don’t see how each of their collaborators can contribute, which can lead to the following:
Vague goals and objectives and a lack of awareness of the steps needed to achieve them
A lack of communication between individuals can mean the entire collaborative effort may fail.
Lack of resources and personnel that can help develop collaborative efforts in the workplace
A management style that does not foster the development of collaboration in the workplace.
