August 6, 2021

How Collaboration Skills Can Kickstart Your Teamwork Strategies

Did you know that people look for an enterprise with a healthy job culture rather than an enterprise that offers the highest benefits?


According to data, 46% of job seekers favor a company that has an excellent work culture.


But what does this mean? Strong cultures lead to a knowledge-sharing culture. This type of teamwork is highly crucial to achieving output, quality, morality, and retention. 


Without effective team collaboration at work, it’s generally tough for a company to progress. 


The statistics are apparent: 86% of employees and managers say that the absence of cooperation leads to job defects.


In this post, we will explore the essentials of collaboration skills and create a robust strategy with a lasting positive impact.


Related: 5 Employee Engagement Tips to Boost the Morale in Your Workplace


What are Collaboration Skills? 

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Collaboration skills refer to the abilities that bring people together from various backgrounds to work on a project or task harmoniously.


Teamwork means you have to be willing to work together with other people you may not know very well, or even worse, might not like. It teaches you to respect other people’s ideas and opinions so that they will respect yours.


With everyone on the team being in the same boat, it’s a lot easier to carry out a single task. During the height of the pandemic, these skills have played a more significant role in making sure all types of business ran smoothly. 


Because team members couldn’t always communicate face to face, having these skills eased the transition to virtual communication.


Why is Workplace Collaboration So Important?


Each team member has something to offer. When all members work together, they can take advantage of their collective experience, skills, and abilities.


Teams can complete projects faster when they collaborate. When individuals of different skills and views come together, problems that would have taken a single person weeks to solve can be solved within hours. Collaborative work also allows you to learn from your colleagues.


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Benefits of Collaboration Skills


A large team will never function effectively if they lack collaboration skills. That’s why acquiring these skills can be one of the most critical parts of team success. 


Learning to collaborate with your coworkers and share responsibility for projects will save your team time, effort, and money. 


Having a collaborative environment has a positive impact on the following:


  • Trust


New ideas, innovation, cooperation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are less likely to flourish when there is no trust. People are too busy protecting themselves and their opinions.


The trust between team members is vital to having an efficient team, as it offers a feeling of security. Team members open up and take chances when they feel safe with each other. 


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  • Productivity


According to Forbes, 50% of the team members who have confidence and trust in one another are more productive. 


They are likely to communicate better and find solutions together, thereby overcoming obstacles and achieving better outcomes.



  • Relationship


Workplace collaboration helps establish an open environment in which individuals feel appreciated and heard. 


Happy employees contribute favorably to a good culture of a business. For example, a survey shows that 41% of the employees felt that their relationship with their colleagues is essential for effective collaboration. But the truth is – it’s like a circle. The better they communicate with each other, the stronger the relationship becomes. 


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  • Skill-sharing and Self-improvement


Apart from the benefits that can result from teamwork, each employee can also reap personal gains. Collaboration can enhance their skill sets and expertise. 


A collaborative work environment showcases employees’ talents and reliability. And if there are some issues with work quality, it’s easier to listen to what your peers have to say if you’re in a friendly and supportive environment.


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How Collaboration Skills Work


A highly successful firm or corporation understands how important teamwork is to achieve the desired outcomes. These tips will help you play up your team’s collaborative skills and strengthen your team strategy:


1. Hold Team-building Activities


Prepare games and activities for team building. They are the best and most enjoyable ways to form new relationships or maintain existing ones while bringing out teamwork skills. 


It also provides a peek into your team members’ interpersonal skills, patience, behaviors, tolerance, and weaknesses may be seen here. 


80% of employees leave their company because of low engagement with peers. Luckily, team-building activities can help employees trust one another’s judgment and break the ice.


2. Conduct Daily Meetings


Encourage your team to meet and discuss group goals and tasks and have a brainstorming session first thing in the morning. 


By doing so, teams avoid redundancy and oversight. 86% of employees and executives from established companies report that lack of collaborative workplace results in failure.


3. Organize an Open Forum


Open and honest communication is essential for successful collaboration in a team. The team will be more productive if everyone feels they can contribute. 


According to a survey, 99.1% of employees prefer a workplace to freely discuss their issues, personal goals, and point of view in every task. In addition, they are more likely to speak honestly and contribute freely if they feel safe from judgment. 


You can also use this time to perform conflict resolution. For example, if you have an employee with a grudge against another, you should help them work it out. Tap their open-mindedness and let them set aside ego through proper communication.


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4. Invest in Collaboration Tools


The most practical thing you can do to guarantee your team’s long-term cooperation is to create a digital workplace. 


Data states that 49% of employees prefer to use collaboration tools. Thanks to the collaboration platform, employees may discuss group work, deadlines, policy changes, and so on–without having to get up from their seats.


5. Give Feedback and Reward


Giving constructive criticism is essential for progress, but it’s also important to express your appreciation for their efforts and compromise with them. 


Recognize individual accomplishments when appropriate, but don’t forget to recognize, celebrate their achievements, and reward team efforts. Of course, not all ideas are good, but it’s crucial to be persistent in delivering positive feedback while maintaining a positive attitude. It can also develop their understanding and soft skills.


6. Have Fun with Your Employees


By having a good time together outside of the office, team members can build a solid working relationship. For example, going for an unplanned coffee run and socializing with coworkers before the day begins might help team members form relationships and collaborate. 


Many smaller organizations take their staff members out to lunch one-on-one at scheduled intervals. 50% of the employees said that their relationship with other coworkers improved because of this. 


7. Set Goals and Be Transparent


97% of workers believe that teams fail when their objectives are not aligned. Set goals to change their mindset and share them as often as possible. 


Your common goal helps them understand the vision. Conduct regular meetings and discussions to help them understand the richness of their roles. This will help your team achieve maximum productivity and consistency.

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Final thoughts


Collaboration skills are necessary for the workplace because they can serve as a stepping stone for your teamwork activities. 


If you want a more productive and efficient work environment, help your team break away from their comfort zone and connect with each other. Successful project management requires collaboration skills.  


Wondering how to develop your team’s collaboration skills? Contact The Virtual Hub today to find out how we can help your teams succeed.


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