The return to the office has brought about the trend of hybrid work where employees are required to come to the office most days and have the option to do remote work on some days. This has spawned the option of being able to hire remotely distributed teams.
Distributed teams – where teammates are working from different locations is part of an ongoing trend. With highly specialized software making collaboration easier, it is now possible to work together from anywhere. However, for teams to collaborate successfully there has to be cohesion – everyone needs to be on the same page. When there is no organization-wide view into tasks and projects – silos will develop and that makes it harder to work together. Aside from teamwork, successful collaborative teams have the following values:
Clarity: Clear communication is of utmost importance. It is a given that not all teams will not agree on everything all the time. It is therefore very important to communicate opinions, ideas, and priorities clearly to reduce conflicts or and avoid misunderstandings.
Efficiency: Successful collaboration does not correlate to how much time the team spends together. Rather it is dependent on how that time together is utilized. Keeping meetings and catch-ups short, structured, and to the point help teams get their work done on time.
Positivity: It is also a given that not all team projects will go smoothly. It is key to instill the value of resilience and failing forward. Learning to shake off failure and to start a new task or project with a positive attitude make collaborations successful.
Trust: Successful collaborative teams place a premium on psychological safety. This term means team members are given a safe space to share their opinions and be themselves. They know that it is safe to contribute their ideas and unique skills. To foster successful collaboration, make sure to encourage sharing of ideas and that the team knows that their leaders have their best interest at heart and believe in their abilities.
Accountability: Make sure that everyone is holding themselves accountable for their work. This means that everyone understands their part in the process and how missed deadlines and haphazard performance affects the tasks or projects as a whole. Isolate issues and offer support so that everyone can reach their goals.
Another thing to factor into teams is diversity and inclusivity. Studies show that diversity in teams (and your organization roster, in general) greatly improves an organization’s culture and the team’s performance on a project. Diversity helps brings an array of skill sets and skill levels. Add to this the fact that diverse personalities are great facilitators of a strong company culture. In order to create successfully collaborative teams, help instill the above mentioned values.
What values do you think are important for remotely working teams to be successfully collaborative? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp