Organisational success is dependent on multiple factors from quality, industry, culture and the people, among others. People and culture play a pivotal role in driving the success of any product or service and achieving the business goals. 

Collaboration and teamwork enable organisations to build a culture of clear communication and trust.  Working with others can drive innovation, and better problem-solving, fostering an atmosphere of open communication and trust. Additionally, it allows companies to optimally use collective resources while avoiding duplication of efforts, saving time and money in the long and short run.

More than that, it enables teams to move towards a common goal in a more structured and strategic manner. Adding to the culture, growth and synergy amongst individuals, teams and the business. 

Salesforce stated, 86% of executives identify ineffective collaboration and communication as a major cause of failure in business. Adding to it, Salesforce says the respondents defined ‘failure’ as time wasted and more conflict. 

In this blog, we will explore the importance of collaboration and teamwork in today’s ever-changing and dynamic work environment and provide some tips on how organizations can build collaborative workplaces.

Benefits of a Teamwork-Centric and Collaborative Workplace

Innovative Problem-Solving

A study conducted by Deloitte found that teams are 2.5 times more likely to come up with innovative solutions than teams that work independently.

When multiple minds collaborate, the pool of knowledge expands, leading to a wider range of possible solutions. Through open dialogue and brainstorming sessions, teams can identify blind spots, challenge assumptions, and develop strategies to tackle situations effectively.

Increased Employee Engagement

Working in a team helps individuals share the workload and leverage each other’s strengths. By dividing tasks among team members based on their expertise, productivity and engagement can be significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the collective effort reduces the risk of burnout and allows for a more balanced work environment.

A Stanford study found that those who work in a collaborative rather than an individual setting are 50% more effective at completing tasks. It boosts motivation and helps them become more engaged with their work.

Opportunities for Learning and Development:

Collaborative work paves the way for collaborative learning. People who work collaboratively with their team members can engage in peer learning, unique perspectives, and backgrounds. 

Not only does collaborative learning help to improve teams’ performance through shared skills, but it can also improve talent retention and acquisition. 87% of millennials now rate professional development opportunities as essential to them in a role.

Ways to Get Better at Working with Others

Set Clear Goals

When working with different teams or employees in an organization, there should be clarity on what the ultimate common goal is. This helps all the employees involved put time and effort in the same direction.

Define Clear Roles and Expectations

Collaborative work helps in achieving objectives from the cumulative potential of all employees involved in a project. It is thus important to define the roles and responsibilities of each person in the team. Such a process in place avoids confusion and increases the accountability of each employee.

Practice Empathy and Active Listening

The ability to listen to respond rather than react is a great way to become better at working with others. It provides a platform to collaborate, brainstorm, and create space to innovate together. Active listening not only helps an employee understand the ideas of another employee better but also leads to effective communication between the two, avoiding conflicts.

Embrace Diversity and Inclusion

Working in collaboration with diverse individuals in a team (expertise, ethnicity, gender, and age) not only provides fresh perspectives towards the set goal, it also helps in creating an outperforming team with experts in various fields. A study by McKinsey & Company shows that companies with diverse inclusive teams and a collaborative workflow are 25% more likely to achieve higher profits.

Building agile and effective teams

Working with and collaborating with others in an organization paves the way for improved performance, shared knowledge, and agility. Companies thrive when their employees are synchronised and aligned. 

Steve Jobs once said, “One person never does great things in business; a team of people does them.”

At Zenfide, we support businesses to build learning experiences to upskill and reskill professionals and teams to support your organisational and business goals. To elevate your organisation’s culture, schedule a call today.