Collaboration Is King When it Comes to Innovation and Success

Innovation will be more vital in 2019 than ever before and leading organizations know the key to maximizing innovation is the ability to build a culture of collaboration. The ultimate goal of collaboration is to think with one mind and act accordingly. Without good multidisciplinary communication and teamwork, individuals are left to deal with insufficient information and organizations are doomed to inefficiencies, mistakes, rework and outcomes that are off target and missed market opportunities.

Over the past few months, we have worked with a growing number of clients who report their inability to innovate, lead necessary change initiatives and accomplish strategic objectives. When we conducted organizational assessments with these organizations, we learned that many of their problems were caused by a lack of cross-functional collaboration resulting from the following behaviors:

• Departments focused solely on their own goals and profits
• Lack of understanding of what other departments do or how their goals integrate with other departments
• Silos, turf wars and people protecting their own interests
• Valuable ideas sidelined by leaders who think they know best or want all the glory
• An attitude of “It will never work here”
• Insufficient diversity of perspectives leading to like-minded thinking and quick agreements that stifle innovation
• Recognition and rewards that foster competition, or at best, diminish interest in other people’s success

If your team is experiencing any of the aforementioned causes of diminished collaboration, it’s time to create a culture where employees have all the information they need to perform successfully, are encouraged to innovate, feel lesfe to try new ideas, are allowed to learn from mistakes, and are rewarded for collaborative efforts. To assist you, we offer the following five foolproof actions you can take to build a collaborative, unified organization.

• Create a common vision and combine department efforts. Communicate the organization’s vision to all employees. Set collective goals and help all team members understand how the goals in different departments are connected to their own goals as well as to the overall strategic goals of the organization.  Provide an understanding of how different departments operate and how each department’s work impacts other departments. Establish communication channels to ensure necessary and timely information reaches every team member.
• Foster cross-departmental communication and shared decision making. Establish a free flow of information and knowledge. Ensure all team members have the same access to information and data. Restricting information limits the ability to see the bigger picture and innovate new ideas or identify solutions to problems. Tap into combined experience and make mutual decisions. When power is distributed, people rely less on formal position power and more on expertise and networks.
• Encourage people to bring their brains to work. Create a safe environment where people have the confidence to speak up and know new or different ideas will be heard. Brainstorm together. Invite everyone to contribute solutions to problems. Solicit opinions, listen with respect and suspend judgement.
• Use differences and disagreements to foster innovation. Build a culture that views differences and conflicts as an opportunity for growth and creativity. Value different points of view, share diverse perspectives and listen to understand. It’s okay to have a different point of view as long as you stay focused on the issue and don’t let the conversation get personal.
• Recognize and reward collaborative work. Recognition, rewards, promotions, compensation systems and bonuses should all include criteria for demonstrated ability to collaborate. Several years ago, we worked with a financial institution to design a new performance review system that would be attached to compensation and promotions. The VP of Sales indignantly asked, “You mean if my top salesperson does not perform as a team player, I have to dock their performance and opportunities for advancement?” The answer was a resounding yes! Both teamwork and sales are required to be a top performer and a successful organization.

Taking action in these five key areas will increase employee engagement and, ultimately, accelerate your organization’s ability to innovate and lead change. Peter Barron Stark Companies has twenty plus years of experience in helping organizations improve teamwork and communication. Let us help you get your new year off to a great start.