We often talk about the importance of team collaboration and being a contributor in the workplace, but why? It’s not just a nice gesture. In fact, collaborative work has many personal and organizational benefits, like greater:
- development
- inclusion
- perspective
- understanding
In most cases, team collaboration involves individuals from different departments bringing their unique skills, ideas and aptitudes to a project. Imagine a designer and writer collaborating with a recruiter on an informative and eye-catching brochure. Or a marketing specialist, sales representative and videographer brainstorming concepts for a year-end presentation.
Collaborating promotes productive conversations and expands our creativity. Plus, team collaboration helps foster a healthier workplace where every employee is heard.
Here are five reasons why you should strive to be a collaboration champion:
1. Innovation
Collaborating with team members of diverse expertise and backgrounds makes solving problems easier and faster. It sparks innovative conversations and dynamic ideas because everyone brings in their own thoughts and perspectives. In other words, team collaboration is the catalyst for the next big thing.
2. Efficiency
You’ve heard the phrase “time is money,” right? Well, think of collaboration as a bottomless bank account.
Gathering for a centralized meeting means no one person has to keep track of all the documents, files, references or any other resource needed for the job at hand.
And overloading any one team member — including the project manager — creates unnecessary bottlenecks. By discussing each contributor’s role as a group, responsibilities are clearer.
3. Open Communication
It’s simple: We don’t learn without listening. Actually hearing your peers is crucial to team collaboration. This doesn’t mean you’ll always agree with your co-workers, but that’s okay. Use that friction to create new and fresh ideas.
Who knows? A healthy discussion about a disagreement could lead to new revelations and a greater understanding of a project.
4. Networking
Meeting people within your organization from different backgrounds and careers is an opportunity to gain and expand your knowledge. A designer could teach you a thing or two about aesthetics. And an experienced leader may become a valuable mentor. If you’re willing to make a meaningful connection, the possibilities are endless.
5. Feedback
Once bonds are formed, it’s easier to appreciate each other’s work and be comfortable with both positive and negative feedback. As you collaborate more with your team, you’ll begin to embrace — and even seek — their constructive feedback.
These are just a few collaboration benefits. With any luck, you’ll discover many, many more. Always look for new ways to collaborate on your projects and tasks.
After all, we’re more productive as groups. Adopting new ways for your team and workplace to collaborate will have long-term rewards for you and your co-workers!
Paycom prioritizes the professional development of its workforce by providing ample opportunities for growth through collaboration. If you’re ready to learn about our engaging team — and be a part of it yourself — visit here and apply today!
