Strategies for Increasing Collaboration and Communication in the Workplace

Strong, effective communication is the key to any successful relationship. So, it only makes sense that communication in the workplace can also bolster your success and improve the work environment. It also leads to more collaborative efforts, reduced burnout, and greater employee retention. 

Of course, communication and collaboration don’t always happen naturally. Stepping in and putting practices in place to increase those efforts can make a big difference. 

Let’s take a look at how you can use your leadership role to improve team cohesion, promote collaboration, and overcome silos in the workplace to develop a stronger, more communicative company culture. 

Choose the Right Leadership Style

Whether you’re a business owner, a manager, or a team leader, choosing the leadership style that works for you and speaks to your team is essential. If you want to improve communication in the workplace, adopt a collaborative leadership style by: 

• Keeping all lines of communication open
• Creating a clear purpose for your team
• Building partnership skills with your team
• Showing vulnerability

While you don’t need to micromanage your team, it’s important to work with them as often as possible. Join in on the collaborative efforts, set an example, and they’ll be more likely to follow your lead. 

Improve Team Cohesion

Team cohesion refers to the strength of interpersonal connection within a group. That could include an entire workforce, or smaller teams within a business. The kind of interpersonal bond you’re looking for will help your team focus on goals, boost their motivation, and increase participation.

But, how do you actually improve team cohesion to foster interpersonal communication? Consider starting with some of the following strategies, designed to improve collaboration and productivity within your team: 

• Hire with care
• Value everyone’s contributions
• Empower your team members
• Resolve conflicts quickly

Team cohesion works best when people share similar attitudes and values. If possible, try to encourage people to work together who are more likely to get along and collaborate with ease. 

Overcome Organizational Silos

If you truly want to establish a company environment that values collaboration and communication, you’ll want to break down organizational silos and focus on a steady, open workflow. Organizational silos can hurt the customer experience by creating a disjointed journey from start to finish. Obviously, that’s going to have a negative impact on your company. 

But, these silos can also hurt your internal communication efforts. While it’s important for everyone to know their role and excel in specific areas, that doesn’t mean they should be “blocked off” from other essential puzzle pieces. 

You can connect organizational silos by using collaboration tools and engaging your employees in training programs across all departments. Nurture a culture of collaboration, make sure every department has access to necessary data, and that everyone’s values and priorities line up the same way when it comes to meeting your business goals. 

By implementing strategies designed to increase collaboration and communication in the workplace, you’ll create an environment that inspires creativity. Your team will be more excited about coming to work each day because they know their ideas are valued. Keep these practices in mind to streamline workflow and foster a more open environment in your business, and you’re likely to see the fruits of your efforts quickly.