How to Boost Collaboration in the Workplace

Workplace collaboration is much more than just a trendy phase. A Stanford study found that employees who work collaboratively stick at a task 64% longer than lone workers. They’re also reported to be more engaged, with lower levels of fatigue and are more successful. Another study by the Institute of Corporate Productivity into the merits of workplace collaboration found that companies that promote collaborative working are five times more likely to be high performing.

So the numbers are pretty compelling, but what does collaboration in the workplace look like, why is it important and how can you improve workplace collaboration in a meaningful way?

What is Workplace Collaboration?

Collaboration in the workplace is the coming together of two or more people to share their skills and ideas and achieve a common objective, such as completing a task or developing a process. The goal is to bring people with different perspectives together to find innovative solutions and solve problems in a faster and more efficient way.

The traditional idea of collaboration is a group of workers sitting together in a meeting room and firing ideas at each other. These days, with more flexible workplaces and the rise of hybrid working, collaboration can happen in any setting, whether teams are in the office together or working remotely using digital tools.

There are lots of real-world examples of successful workplace collaboration in practice. Approximately 400,000 people were involved in the NASA moon landing project in 1969, many of whom had never worked in the field of aerospace before.

Pixar is a more recent example of a successful project with collaboration at its heart. Initially, Steve Jobs planned to house Pixar in three buildings with separate offices. Instead, he chose to have a single vast space with an atrium in the middle (containing meeting rooms, a cafe and a restaurant) where different departments and cultures could get together and collaborate. According to Brad Bird, director of ‘The Incredibles’: “Steve realised that when people bump into each other and make eye contact, things happen.”

Why is Collaboration in the Workplace Important?

A group of individuals has more skills, talents and expertise than a single person. Each member of the team effectively acts like another resource or tool that can be used to make smarter and better decisions. When the team members in a group collaborate successfully, they can utilise their shared knowledge and experience to achieve a common goal in a more effective way.

But collaboration is not only important from the perspective of business outputs. Working together also helps to promote employee relationships, which in turn leads to better team performance, more workplace engagement and higher overall workplace productivity and satisfaction.

The benefits of collaboration in the workplace include:

1. Better problem solving

Generally speaking, bringing together people with diverse skill sets and knowledge improves competence, leads to fewer blindspots and produces more creative problem-solving.

2. Greater efficiency

When employees work together, they can find solutions to problems more quickly than if one person worked on their own. The work can be divided based on the skill sets and experience of group members so no one person ends up feeling overwhelmed.

3. More satisfied employees

Workplace collaboration helps to create an open environment where employees feel heard and valued. They get the chance to see that their contributions really matter to the company, contributing to a positive company culture and instilling a sense of pride.

4. Seamless knowledge transfer

In a collaborative workplace, each person brings their own work experiences, knowledge and competencies to the table, so every team member can learn from each other. This helps employees expand their skills faster and make new connections between ideas and departments.

5. More aligned teams

With more hybrid and remote workers than ever, collaborative working can keep everyone updated, aligned and connected, wherever they are. One study even found that virtual collaboration can be more effective than in-person collaboration, with the lack of face-to-face contact reducing inhibitions and helping less experienced workers express themselves freely.

How to Boost Workplace Collaboration

Now you know what workplace collaboration is all about and some of the benefits, here are a few strategies to help you boost it in your business.

Choose the right workspace

The concept that one size fits all when it comes to working environments has well and truly shifted over the last few years. Every business has a unique set of requirements and working practices, so the office you choose should reflect those needs and support the overall goals of the business.

In collaborative workspaces, it’s a common misconception that wide-open spaces are always the best choice. However, they can be noisy and stark and often lack the quiet, collaborative areas where ideas can be shared.

Agile workspaces, which replace dedicated desks with a variety of shared spaces, tend to work best. They typically feature mixed-use areas such as huddle rooms, which provide a private space where groups can brainstorm ideas and work on projects together.

‘Collision areas’ can also help boost collaboration. These are communal spaces that are strategically placed where people gather to talk and take breaks. They allow employees to rest and recharge but also socialise in a free and relaxed environment to generate and share ideas.

Having the right space for your teams to work in can make or break their productivity. If the office doesn’t provide the right environment for teams to thrive, it may inhibit overall success. If you’re on the lookout for a flexible office space that’s best suited to promoting productivity, the Knight Frank team will be more than happy to assist.

Encourage active listening

An important part of collaborating successfully is to listen first and make sure everyone feels acknowledged and heard. It’s not collaboration if the loudest or most confident person in a group monopolises the conversation and drives home their ideas.

Active listening requires people to slow down and really think about what other people are saying, rather than just waiting for their turn to walk. It also encourages listeners to ask questions to clarify what they have heard and gives the speaker the time to gather their thoughts and provide a considered reply. This clarification also means you’ll be crystal clear on everyone’s thoughts, ensuring all opinions and ideas are listened to and considered.

Create a collaborative company culture

You can’t become a collaborative business if the culture doesn’t allow it. For workplace collaboration to thrive, your workers must have a sense of psychological safety. They shouldn’t feel afraid to share their ideas, look unprofessional or make mistakes, which can create a toxic company culture.

Instead, encourage your employees to communicate freely, both horizontally and vertically, and create an environment where everyone feels and is treated equally.

Provide recognition and rewards

To promote effective collaboration in a business, leaders must recognise and reward successful collaboration. This does not have to be monetary. Sharing success stories within the business can be highly effective, but so can rewards such as treating teams to a night out or a meal from a local restaurant.

Rewarding teams rather than individuals can reduce internal competition and make employees see their colleagues as an asset rather than a threat.

Kickstart a Collaborative Culture in your Business

Collaboration in the workplace can make projects run more smoothly, keep employees engaged and help your business reach its goals, but you need to have a workplace that can support it.

At Knight Frank, we can help you find flexible office space that is primed for collaboration. Our workplace experts know what features to look for and the amount of space you’ll need to create a collaborative workplace that’s right for your team. Get in touch for help finding the perfect workspace for your business — and our service is completely free.