Collaboration isn’t a new concept. Teamwork is something that we’ve relied on throughout history. However, there’s more to it today than people often realise. Collaboration isn’t just bringing people together in the same room and hoping they get along. Today’s companies need to find new ways of connecting their teams – even when they’re miles apart.
Research shows that collaborative teams are more than 5 times higher-performing compared to their peers. In a world that’s always connected, team collaboration tools are the heart of the collaborative experience.
The right technology unlocks productivity and performance solutions for any kind of team. However, it’s also essential that businesses have the right strategies in place for using those tools. Here are just some of the steps you can take to improve team collaboration.
1. Use the Right Tools for the Job
Around half of global employees believe that they’re more productive when they’re working from home. This indicates that the demand for remote work will continue in the years ahead. Mobile working brings with it the need for new tools, such as instant messaging apps, and video conferencing services.
Aside from simply investing in these solutions, companies also need to ensure their people know which tools to use, and when. Video conferencing is an excellent solution for when complex conversations are necessary. However, it won’t be the right choice for quick catch-ups and confirmation. Make sure your customers know when it’s appropriate to send an email, pick up the phone, or start a video call.
2. Make Video Part of the Culture
Video-first approaches to collaboration are becoming more popular these days. New generations that are already comfortable with video are entering the workforce. What’s more, now that all of the leading team collaboration tools come with easy-to-access video, starting a call is simpler.
However, there will be some people in your team that may resist video. As a business leader, you need to ensure that you highlight the value of video for ongoing connections. Video mimics the face-to-face conversations that remote employees don’t get each day.
Video can be a valuable way to add context to a meeting. Don’t forget to use video for non-work conversations too. This leads to better bonding experiences.
3. Make Expectations Clear
One of the biggest benefits of remote and distance working is that it gives employees more freedom. However, it’s still important to have the right policies in place. Guiding your team members by letting them know when everyone is expected to be online is a good start. Ensure your employees know when meetings and conversations are mandatory.
Additionally, it’s worth ensuring that your employees know what you’re going to be measuring when they’re collaborating from a distance. How are you going to track the engagement of your non-office staff members? Do you expect your employees to check-in regularly and let you know what progress they’ve been making on certain projects?
Explain your expectations from day one, and you’re less likely to have misunderstandings later.
4. Develop Trust and Respect
While it’s helpful to check-in on your remote and distance employees at times, if you want team collaboration to thrive, you need to generate trust. Constantly following up with your staff members can make them feel overwhelmed and unhappy. It’s important to know when to step back and let employees find their own way.
Additionally, encouraging regular discussions about working methods and strategies can help too. Different people will approach projects in their own unique ways. Asking your employees to be respectful of the strategies and backgrounds of other employees will be essential to help everyone work effectively together.
5. Make it Easy to Ask for Help
If your employees are working remotely for the first time, or you’re just new to relying on collaboration tools, there are bound to be some teething pains. Start by making sure that you have plenty of documentation available on how to use certain tools and services. Guides on how to set up successful video conferences could be incredibly helpful.
