Improve Workplace Collaboration Through Better Communication

To improve workplace collaboration, start by strengthening how you communicate with your employees. By collecting input from everyone, acknowledging mistakes, and encouraging employees to talk to one another you can break down the silos that stifle innovation and efficiency. Read ahead to learn more.Making Workplace Collaboration Easier By Being Asymmetrical. Forbes: “To become an asymmetrical organization—to embark upon a more collaborative mindset systemically across the entire workforce—is to invoke participation and input from everyone (as necessary) as opposed to always (and only) commanding and controlling. It is introducing an imbalance to a tiresome relic of the 20th century. The leadership hierarchy is still required, but hierarchy for the sake of hierarchy and antiquated ‘command and control’ habits are most certainly not ideas that will champion a collaborative workforce.”'No More Crossed Wires': How Open Innovation Is Born from Company Collaboration. Huffington Post: “Good communication is paramount when working collaboratively. ‘This is key to avoiding duplication or misunderstanding when two teams are working on content at the same time,’ said Dan Scholes, Project Manager at Sponge UK. Working with teams of shared levels of industry knowledge will help the development process. Dan states that ‘a good level of knowledge in technology and learning design aided collaboration because everyone was on the same page technically.’”3 Strategies to Fuel Vitality and Eliminate Gossip. Leadership Freak: “Invite team members to praise co-workers. Begin your next one-on-one with a direct report by saying, ‘Tell me something good about the people you work with.’ If they need help, give them the above praise list to get them started. Ask permission to send a praise email to their co-worker. Compose and send it while they’re in your office.”Making Collaboration Work in Your Building. Education World: “Visit a peer. This is the simplest way to start a collaborative environment in the modern school system. This can be intimidating to some teachers, so go in looking for something positive, and make it clear that that’s your intention: ‘I’ve heard you do great openers and exit tickets’ or ‘You really seem to garner respect from the kids and I’d love to see it in practice.’ This assures a peer that you’re not looking to critique their classroom; you’re looking for mentorship from a pro.”Make ‘Em Say Wow: 11 Tips for Building a Strong Service Team. Bulldog Reporter: “Have mistake meet-ups. Another big part of empowerment is demystifying the fear that comes along with making a mistake, adds Ron Kaufman, author of Uplifting Service: The Proven Path to Delighting Your Customers, Colleagues, and Everyone Else You Meet. ‘Have a meeting and say, ‘We want learning from mistakes to be part of our culture,’ he advises. ‘Have your leaders kick off the meeting by saying, ‘I’ll go first. Here’s the biggest mistake I made last week. Here’s what I learned from it. What can I learn from you?’ Then, everyone shares in that way, and, boy, does that make them feel safer. It gives them the freedom to try new ideas and to take new actions.”Success Labs is a leadership development and management consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to explore their business potential and improve their company and cultural performance. Contact us to get proactive about your people strategy.