Collaboration is crucial in the business, even though it makes introverts and everyone who detested group projects in school shudder. However, it can occasionally be difficult to collaborate across teams efficiently. Teams may differ in their communication styles, work techniques, and priorities, all of which can affect how well they collaborate. Teams may, however, overcome these challenges and collaborate amicably to achieve a common objective if the proper tactics are in place.
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The significance of working well across teams will be discussed in this post, along with our top 6 suggestions for successful cross-team cooperation.
The Significance of Inter-Team Cooperation
No team works alone. Distributed teams located in several states or even abroad really support a large number of enterprises. A study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity and Rob Cross, Babson College’s Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Business, found that high-performing companies are up to 5.5 times more likely than low-performing ones to provide incentives for team, leader, and individual effectiveness in collaboration. According to a research of over 1,100 businesses, two-thirds of which list collaboration as an organizational objective, the distinction between successful and unsuccessful cooperation can be summed up in one word: purpose.
The main reason high-performance businesses, like Patagonia, one of the four firms included in the report, can use collaboration to accomplish desired business outcomes is because they actively seek it out. An successful corporate culture that is embraced by the whole organization and promoted by management leads to productive cooperation.
Just consider the finest team you have ever been a member of. Why did that team work? Was the project the cause? The individuals? The dynamics between people? Did you find it enjoyable to participate? Did it make you feel your best? Now consider the worst team you have ever been a part of. What was different about those experiences?
Teams that work together produce better outcomes and are more productive. Teams function best when they are working together. However, cooperation requires work, and teams may really disintegrate, malfunction, and be disrupted for a variety of reasons. Let’s get started. In this piece, we’ve included the best practices for working both inside and between teams.
Use Meetings Strategically to Enhance Teamwork at Work
1. Create official meeting agendas while taking communication styles into consideration. Keep in mind that some attendees may have a more reflective communication style. If you are the meeting’s leader or a member of the team that organized it, proactively reach out to those team members in advance to share specific topics you would like them to contribute to if you want your meeting to be worthwhile and fruitful. Everyone engaged will be better able to grasp how they can contribute and what their particular expectations are if each meeting has a clear agenda and takes into account the role of each attendee. Uncertain about how to identify your communication style? There are tools for it, so don’t worry.
Take note of and serve as an example of best practices for creating a collaborative environment.
2. Work together on the problem of cooperation. If strong teams are required by the corporate culture, check throughout the organization to discover who else is succeeding at it. Discuss team dynamics, how they inspire collaboration, and the behaviors they promote with other managers. Additionally, be sure to reciprocate by sharing your own best practices and insights gained. Remember to talk to mentors and coworkers outside of your organization. You’d be shocked to learn how frequently identical circumstances appear in different sectors.
3. Make team performance, not simply individual success, the focus of responsibility. This drives the team to cooperate in order to achieve shared objectives and helps bring out the lone ranger team member. A shift will begin if one team member isn’t contributing, since the other members won’t carry that person. Find out why there is disagreement, excessive solo work, or a general breakdown of collaboration by removing the individual in question. To get to the core of the matter, you may either ask a series of “why” inquiries or be extremely straightforward, depending on your personality.
4. Give the employee experience top priority. You may discover a lot about workplace culture and potential communication issues at your organization by looking at things from the viewpoints of your employees. Employee satisfaction and comfort at work may be greatly increased by setting aside time to investigate employee experience and look for methods to enhance both digital and physical work environments.
5. Establish tech-driven areas for collaboration. These days, audio and video conferencing is quite easy because to advancements in technology and internet connections. To encourage more meaningful communication among staff members, think about including tailored communication insights into your meeting tools. This will help everyone understand how to interact with each other most effectively. Increasing the value of meetings for all participants is a great strategy to foster a collaborative workplace culture.
6. Encourage education and growth. ** **In order to apply their abilities to new projects and learning opportunities, many employees want to develop in their careers. This helps the organization create productive and cooperative relationships. Actually, businesses that promote taking calculated risks and learning from errors frequently see increases in creativity and productivity. The Monster Job Index for July 2021 states:
Eighty percent of professionals believe there are no possibilities for advancement at their present company.
54% of workers worry that they lack the abilities necessary to succeed in a job that prioritizes technological cooperation.
According to 49% of workers, their company should encourage professional development.