Creating a collaborative workplace poses challenges but there are great rewards if you can find the right balance. All parties need to feel heard and valued and the team needs a good mix of humility, trust and respect. Management needs to develop a culture where team members can express ideas and yet accept when other options are employed.
Here are some suggestions for creating the collaborative environment:
1) Know the strengths of all members of the team and let them know where you see their strengths.
2) Give feedback. As decisions are made, let the team know how and why.
3) Learn what team members would like to do more – give them room to grow.
4) Be clear about who the final decision maker will be.
5) Ensure that all team members feel valued.
6) Encourage team members to communicate with one another – learn from each other – and develop trust.
We all have a different way of seeing things. Collaboration can provide greater results when the team has the right balance. It takes work on everyone’s part but the payoff individually and for the entire group can be enormous.
Written by Blog Contributor: Linda S. Henderson
