GuideUC&C18 Apr 2018 · 3 min read

Collaboration Strategies for Your Mid-Market Business

You know that collaboration tools can help your team work better together, but how do you implement a successful collaborative strategy?

Rebekah Carter

The team that works together, succeeds together. Unfortunately, in a mid-market enterprise when there are hundreds of people dispersed around your company, it can be difficult to make sure that everyone can connect with the right experts and groups when they need to most. The good news is that UC&C vendors around the world have begun to develop collaboration tools and workflow apps specifically designed to improve internal communications.

Collaboration tools are intended to break down the silos of communication for a team. They provide a single point of information for everyone in your group, along with plenty of supportive services like instant messaging apps, video conferencing tools, reporting, analytics, and of course, file sharing solutions too. The question is, in a world where people often avoid new technology, how do you make sure your collaboration strategy works?

Getting People on Board with Leadership

Adoption is the key to any new implementation in your business, whether you're rolling out a new software patch, or you're trying to get people involved with a collaboration tool. Unfortunately, according to research, many teams' express frustration with the slow pace of engagement and adoption in the workforce.

Part of the problem is a lack of education. After all, it takes more than setting people up with a profile on your new collaboration app to convince them that they should be taking part in the digital transformation (DX). Large shifts in organisational strategies take time, and you'll need to be patient with your team as they get used to new tech.

However, a good way to start getting people on board is to start with appointing a leader for the rollout. This can be a manager or even a group of executives that demonstrate how to use the new tool and lead by demonstration. Executive buy-in can quickly encourage adoption from the rest of the business community.

Choosing Tools with Genuine Value

Another important thing you'll need to think about when implementing collaboration tools into the mid-market space is whether the solution you've chosen has genuine value to offer. Many companies seem to embrace collaboration tools quickly, pushed by a desire to be on the cutting edge. This means that they invest in technology and then try to find a way that the new tool will fit into their employee's work styles.

The best strategy is often to take the opposite approach. This means figuring out which tools your staff needs, and how you can help them to become more productive. By starting your collaboration strategy by looking for problems that you can solve for your employees, you make adoption far more likely. After all, it's much easier to sell a new resource to your staff if you can let them know that it's going to make their job easier, more fun, or more efficient.

Start Slow and Work Your Way Out

For some companies, the best way to implement a collaboration strategy will be to jump in headfirst and roll out the technology to everyone at once. For larger mid-market companies, the better option may be to pilot your tools with a smaller group first. This will help you to determine any challenges that might stop different departments from making the most out of your new investment.

Most employees won't be willing to embrace a collaboration tool unless it's easy to access, and it makes their work experience simpler. If you can address any initial problems quickly before you roll your solution out to the right of the business, then you can improve your chances that everyone will regard your investment in a positive light.

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