Most entrepreneurs rely on teams and groups of employees working together to facilitate the smooth day to day running of their business. Cohesion is key, not solely for high levels of productivity and achieving optimum outcomes for customers and clients, but also for morale and job satisfaction. If you’re an employer, here are some strategies to promote collaboration and cooperation in the workplace.
Encourage socialization
Not everyone is best buddies with their work colleagues, but it’s beneficial for employees to get along. As an employer, you don’t want to force people to hang out with each other if they don’t want to, but it’s a great idea to make it possible for employees to socialize and to encourage a level of interaction both inside and outside of work. Simple things like organizing regular catch-ups, getting together over lunch on a Friday afternoon, or planning after-work drinks once a month can make a positive difference.
Provide suitable collaborative working spaces
Collaborative working is increasingly commonplace in the modern workplace, and many people respond well to liaising with colleagues on projects and working together. As an employer, to achieve the best results, you need to facilitate cohesion by providing suitable tools that enable a number of individuals to contribute to group tasks and creating areas like co-work stations where people can come together to share ideas, talk about specific projects or meet up to discuss progress reports or updates. If everybody is stuck at a desk in an office with no access to communal spaces, or software is outdated and it doesn’t allow for real-time updates and file sharing, it can be challenging to work cohesively.
Resolve conflict
People don’t always get on, and issues may crop up within your team that threatens to create an unpleasant or hostile environment and set progress back. If there are problems, or you sense that there is a risk of conflicts arising, it’s wise to try and confront discrepancies and nip issues in the bud. Encourage communication between the individuals involved, give them time and space to set out their arguments or concerns, and try and mediate. Often, problems get worse because employees don’t feel able to speak out. If people feel that they can be open, this will help to resolve any rumblings and maintain a harmonious, respectful work environment.
Promote inclusivity
Everybody wants to feel included when they are part of a team. It’s natural for some people to be more outspoken and confident than others, but as an employer, you can help to promote inclusivity by ensuring everyone has a chance to speak in meetings, everyone is able to share ideas and everyone is involved in work-related and extracurricular activities. Your policies and protocols should actively champion inclusivity.
A team that works together will achieve more. If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of encouraging and facilitating collaboration. Promote inclusivity, encourage people to spend time together, resolve conflicts as soon as possible, and provide your employees with the resources and facilities they need to work together efficiently and effectively.