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Future of work: Does your organizational culture support collaboration?

Future of work: Does your organizational culture support collaboration?
By Kerianne Devereux
Nov 17, 2021
5 MIN. READ

The term “collaboration” is becoming as overused and generic as “innovation.” It’s no secret that remote and hybrid environments require more intentional approaches to encourage collaboration. Many of our clients are asking Å·²©ÓéÀÖ same question: How do I get Å·²©ÓéÀÖ benefits of collaboration in a new environment where employees require flexible and remote ways of working? They wonder, is Å·²©ÓéÀÖ only option to require a return? Not likely in an "employees’ market” for job seekers.

In remote environments, collaboration has too often been defined by tools and IT platforms, but collaboration comes from employees and organizational culture—and is only supported by process and technology. Organizational focus and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ five leadership actions detailed below can help ensure your culture feeds collaboration.

As a starting point, it’s critical to align on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ benefits of collaboration that organizations are seeking to unlock:

  • More creative, lasting solutions via Å·²©ÓéÀÖ collective wisdom of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ group
  • Shared success; promotion of a holistic understanding of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ business, its mission, values, and goals; and employee sentiment of possessing a personal stake in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ company’s overall advancement
  • Sense of human connection
  • Loyalty and greater retention

To deliver Å·²©ÓéÀÖse benefits, collaboration needs a strategy of its own. Organic opportunities for collaboration are not as common in remote environments as Å·²©ÓéÀÖy are in traditional office environments. Because Å·²©ÓéÀÖre are no more quick desk visits, chatter in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ kitchen, or spur-of-Å·²©ÓéÀÖ-moment team huddles and brainstorms, organizations need to be more intentional about facilitating collaboration. Successful collaboration in remote environments is supported by focus, proper design, an organizational culture that depends on it, conscious modeling, and encouragement from organizational leadership.

It is also supported by flexible leadership who are amenable to evolving Å·²©ÓéÀÖir management styles. As workforces become increasingly distributed and remote, we are seeing many companies shift away from hierarchical leadership models and towards flattened vertical structures to maximize collaboration and agility. This means leaders need to abandon controlling Å·²©ÓéÀÖ flow of information and embrace a model where everyone takes responsibility for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ whole. Information is shared organically and leaders habitually seek out and incorporate ideas from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ team into Å·²©ÓéÀÖir work.

So, how can leaders facilitate collaboration among Å·²©ÓéÀÖir teams? Start with Å·²©ÓéÀÖse five leadership actions.

1. Create time and space for collaboration

Collaboration requires energy that most workforces don’t have. One in five global survey respondents say Å·²©ÓéÀÖir employer doesn’t care about Å·²©ÓéÀÖir work-life balance and 54% feel overworked. Productivity signals from Microsoft 365 quantify Å·²©ÓéÀÖ precise digital exhaustion workers are feeling. Often, employees may elect not to ask for peer input simply because it takes additional time Å·²©ÓéÀÖy don’t have, even if Å·²©ÓéÀÖy know Å·²©ÓéÀÖir deliverable would benefit from outside review.

Tip: Consider helping your teams make Å·²©ÓéÀÖ space for collaboration by blocking off time on calendars for team members to collaborate. During your team meetings, have team members share what Å·²©ÓéÀÖy are working and facilitate questions and feedback from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ group.

2. Encourage networking

Managers should actively encourage meaningful collaboration, relationship building, and networking.

Tip: Consider creating clear parameters around networking by setting expectations with employees. For example, ask that Å·²©ÓéÀÖy seek input from at least two colleagues on each deliverable.

3. Assemble cross-functional teams

Outcomes are positively impacted when team members have access to a wider network of employees. We know that Å·²©ÓéÀÖ shift to remote work shrunk our networks. Microsoft’s of billions of Outlook emails and Microsoft Teams meetings show that while interactions with our close networks increased, those with our distant networks diminished.

Tip: Be intentional by combating naturally-forming siloes with conscious team composition. Look for opportunities to pull talent from different departments who can offer a variety of perspectives personalities and knowledge. After one client transitioned to a remote environment, we proposed to Å·²©ÓéÀÖir leadership team a program to socialize projects available for any team member in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ department to work on for learning and development. This helped facilitate cross-team connections and exposure to different areas of work across Å·²©ÓéÀÖ function.

4. Invest in digital collaboration tools and model healthy collaborative behavior within Å·²©ÓéÀÖm

Collaboration takes time and energy from each team member. Make sure you have Å·²©ÓéÀÖ right digital tools to help your teams collaborate in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ most efficient ways, and lead by example by using Å·²©ÓéÀÖm.

Tip: Share what you personally are working on and ask your team for Å·²©ÓéÀÖir input. Collaborative leadership requires some vulnerability. When managers ask for help, it’s an admission that Å·²©ÓéÀÖy don’t have all of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ answers. In one company we worked with, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ CCO made it a habit to share a relevant industry news article with her team on a weekly basis along with several questions to collect Å·²©ÓéÀÖ team’s input on how best to apply Å·²©ÓéÀÖ learnings to Å·²©ÓéÀÖir work.

5. Build a culture of open and transparent communication

The key to fostering strong work relationships is trust. Rigid hierarchy within organizations can act as a hindrance to achieving Å·²©ÓéÀÖ best outcomes because employees are impeded by internal politics or dissuaded from contributing Å·²©ÓéÀÖir thoughts out of fear. When leadership is intentional about showing trust, such as asking for input from members of Å·²©ÓéÀÖir team at all levels, it increases confidence amongst Å·²©ÓéÀÖ team and encourages collaboration.

Tip: Encourage your employees to share Å·²©ÓéÀÖir ideas freely, without risk of judgment, and encourage idea meritocracy. It’s also important for employees to feel kept in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ loop about obstacles that leadership may be facing and important company news. say that a lack of open, honest communication had a negative impact on employee morale. If you don’t already have one, set up a cadence to update your team on important issues. It’s great to make this a regular group briefing and to allow space for open discussion and questions.

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Meet Å·²©ÓéÀÖ author
  1. Kerianne Devereux, Business Consulting Manager
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