Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: How One “Beer” Float Changed Everything
Maria was working for a startup that was on the brink of failure.
The company had brilliant ideas, but there was little coordination between departments. Everyone was siloed and seemed to be ignoring the bigger picture.
The marketing team was producing content for which the sales team had no use.
The product team was building features that engineering didn’t need.
Leadership was too busy micromanaging to notice any of this. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
The day came when the company lost a major client. It was a blow that could have been avoided if only they had collaborated more effectively.
It was then that they realized the importance of collaboration in the workplace.
Maria spearheaded an initiative to prioritize collaboration.
They started working together, sharing ideas, and communicating effectively.
Even though money was tight, they brought in a coach who taught them to set aside their egos and focus on the common goal.
The result was a dramatic turnaround that halted further client attrition and opened an environment where people loved to work.
Collaboration is essential in today’s workplace.
It’s not just about teamwork; it’s about working together in a coordinated manner towards a common goal.
Collaboration fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.
Here are a few tips on how to foster collaboration in the workplace:
Encourage open communication: Encourage your team to speak their minds, share their ideas, and ask questions. Create a safe environment when everyone feels free to express themselves by verbally appreciating new ideas and perspectives and refraining from gossip, even about unrelated topics.
Build trust: When your team trusts one another, they are more likely to work together effectively. Set an example by being transparent, reliable, and keeping your promises.
Share information: Provide team members with access to the information they need to do their jobs. Host mini knowledge-sharing meetings where people are encouraged to speak on topics aligned with their expertise. Use Slack or other collaboration tools to keep everyone on the same page.
Create a collaborative environment: A collaborative environment is one that encourages teamwork and creativity. This can be achieved through open workspaces, team-building activities, and cross-functional training. Some out-of-the-box ideas for teambuilding activities include Build-a-Bike (where people work together to assemble a bike), weekly language or self-defense classes, or a team scavenger hunt.
Celebrate successes: Celebrating successes as a team can be a powerful motivator. When your team feels valued and appreciated, they are more likely to collaborate effectively in the future. Host monthly socials where over-achievers are publicly acknowledged, keep a highly visible status board, or send out random messages of gratitude to the team when someone does something extra.
Food and drink are potent tools for collaboration.
I once worked as the national sales manager of a rock-climbing wall company.
It was a small business where each person toiled away at their desk. Collaborative touchpoints were few and far between.
One day, I got a hankering for some ice cream — a root-beer float, to be specific.
It was Friday, and I often went to the bar after work to unwind with friends. Once in a while, a colleague would join me.
I knew everyone in the office liked beer.
And, as I mentioned, it was Friday!
I decided to make my root beer float a beer float and bring enough for everyone.
Boy, was I surprised by how people embraced this!
Being a “Jersey Girl,” I wasn’t the most popular person at work, and the beer floats helped me to connect with people.
It became a monthly event.
Collaboration happened more frequently. Client deliverables improved. Deals closed.
Everyone was happy!
Collaboration is an indispensable key to success in the workplace.
It takes effort and commitment to foster collaboration, but the rewards are well worth it.
By encouraging open communication, building trust, sharing information, creating a collaborative environment, and celebrating successes, you can create a workplace where everyone works together towards a common goal.
Remember, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
