Collaboration and trust are essential for any successful workplace, especially in a time of rapid change and uncertainty. How can you foster a culture of cooperation and confidence among your colleagues and managers? Here are some keys to building a collaborative and trusting workplace that can boost your interpersonal skills and networking.
Communication is the foundation of collaboration and trust. You need to share your goals, expectations, feedback, and progress with your team and stakeholders regularly and transparently. Use multiple channels and formats, such as emails, meetings, chats, reports, and presentations, to suit different preferences and situations. Listen actively and respectfully to others' opinions, questions, and concerns, and acknowledge their contributions and achievements. Avoid jargon, ambiguity, and assumptions, and clarify any misunderstandings or conflicts promptly and constructively.
An example of this that I've noticed is the need to over communicate while dealing with multiple stakeholders with diverse requirements. The info can be good or bad, but needs to be out there at the earliest for everyone to see.
Empathy and respect are key to building rapport and trust with your coworkers and managers. You need to understand and appreciate their perspectives, feelings, and challenges, and show that you care about their well-being and success. Be supportive, helpful, and courteous, and avoid blaming, criticizing, or judging others harshly. Recognize and celebrate the diversity of backgrounds, skills, and styles in your team, and leverage their strengths and talents. Respect the boundaries, preferences, and autonomy of others, and avoid micromanaging, interrupting, or imposing your views.
I like to share a recent experience heading a new section. So my teams consist of those i worked with in the past with fantastic working relationship and deliverables achieved. However, i got new members in my team. Yes we knew one another but no real working relationship. So i quickly realize i need to get them on board particularly with my style of team leadership in order to have a smooth, efficient and fulfilling experience. So the first thing we did is to get our new team bonded by freely talking about our experiences, previous challenges, achievements and expectations. Thereafter, we reminded ourselves about corporate mandate and objectives. Tensions became doused. we all became enthusiastic to take on the new tasks.
Collaboration is not just working together, but working together well. You need to establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each team member, and align them with the common vision and goals. Use effective tools and methods to coordinate, communicate, and document your work, such as project management software, shared folders, and online meetings. Encourage and welcome input, feedback, and suggestions from your team and stakeholders, and incorporate them into your decisions and actions. Be flexible, adaptable, and open to new ideas and approaches, and experiment with different solutions and strategies.
Effective collaboration hinges on communication as its cornerstone: Communicating effectively necessitates a consideration for others' time. I invest extra effort into comprehending the purpose and agenda of a meeting, thereby formulating a concise and well-structured plan to facilitate productive discussions.
Trust and accountability are the outcomes of consistent and reliable performance and behavior. You need to deliver on your promises and commitments, and meet or exceed the quality and deadlines of your work. If you face any challenges or delays, communicate them early and honestly, and seek help or support if needed. Accept responsibility for your actions and results, and learn from your mistakes and feedback. Trust your team members and managers to do the same, and avoid micromanaging, second-guessing, or undermining their work. Give and receive constructive feedback regularly and respectfully, and acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and achievements of others.
My approach typically begins with MRI, which stands for "Most Respectful Interpretation." This involves dedicating time and patience to comprehending others' perspectives. For instance, in a meeting where all stakeholders are present, if someone offers feedback or criticism regarding my presentation, I refrain from immediately defending my stance and I believe it is not always needed. Instead, I remain open to their challenging viewpoint and show respect for their interpretation. Subsequently, I proactively seek to understand their perspective and make necessary adjustments.
A positive and supportive culture can foster collaboration and trust among your colleagues and managers. You need to create and maintain a healthy and safe work environment, where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. Promote a culture of learning, growth, and innovation, where people can share their knowledge, skills, and ideas, and learn from each other. Encourage a culture of recognition, appreciation, and celebration, where people can express their gratitude, praise, and recognition for each other's work and contributions. Foster a culture of fun, joy, and humor, where people can enjoy their work and have fun together.
Collaborative intelligence involves recognizing your own and others' mind patterns to enhance communication for better collaboration. Combining three attention types (focused, sorting, open) with three perceptual channels (kinesthetic, visual, auditory) forms six cognitive profiles, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Consider Radha as an example; she leans towards visual attention, employs kinesthetic sorting, and maintains auditory openness. Consequently, Radha excels in tasks requiring visual acuity, demonstrating exceptional recall for visual details. However, she struggles with name retention, dislikes impromptu speaking, and frequently resorts to gestures to articulate her thoughts."