How to Collaborate More Effectively with Your Team

The word “collaborative” has become a hot buzzword in recent years. Collaborative technology. Collaborative workplaces. Collaborative environments. But it’s the human factor that can make the difference between success and failure when a collaborative team gets together. So, how can you make sure your employees are collaborating in a way that will produce the best results?

1. Start off by making sure everyone knows his or her role in the session. Assign people to perform any research that’s necessary to do beforehand, and others to perform the action steps the team decides need to be taken afterward.
2. Although the team should be first with ideas, don’t be afraid to crowdsource, i.e. through social media, to get more input.
3. Don’t finish until the team has reached a clear consensus on the matter at hand. This should include ensuring that everyone agrees on key, relevant terms so there is no room for misinterpretation or other problems later.
4. Make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the desired result. Then work backwards as a group to determine the steps needed to get to that result.
5. Collect buy-in along the way. Allow and encourage everyone to share candid feedback and express their confidence—or lack of confidence—in proposed actions.
6. If the outcome you’re proposing will affect other users, consult those users to ensure that it will address their needs—the way they need them addressed.
7. Use collaborative technology to make sure everyone always has access to the most recent version of any shared documents.
8. To be sure everything done as the group agreed it should be done, be sure to include complete details about methodologies within shared documents.
9. Keep stakeholders apprised as you go, practicing transparency throughout the entire project, not just after everything is finished.
10. Keep enthusiasm and involvement levels high throughout the project by publicly posting a large chart that displays your team’s achievement of milestones. (Keep a shared copy online, too!)
11. Always remember, it’s a team effort. When one person wins, the entire team wins. So any rewards should benefit and recognize all team members, not only certain individuals.

Collaboration in today’s business environment is a survival skill. So is finding the right team to keep your organization running smoothly. If you’re looking for great IT employees, call the team at Triumph Services. We’ll work with you to ensure you have the right people with the right skills at the right time.