Harness the Power of Collaborative Working to Speed up Projects

Roles and responsibilities

By understanding the strengths and capabilities of each team member, team leads can assign tasks that leverage their skills and expertise. Clear roles and responsibilities enable a team lead or project manager to delegate collaborative work effectively, provide guidance and empower their direct reports to shine.

As an individual contributor, clear roles and responsibilities provide a foundation for effective teamwork. Individual contributors can align their efforts with the broader team goals by understanding their specific tasks and deliverables.

In cross-functional collaborations, where teams work across different departments or disciplines, defining roles and responsibilities becomes even more critical. Without clear guidelines, teams can become siloed, hindering effective coordination and impeding progress.

Goals and objectives

By defining an organisation’s shared vision and purpose, each member involved in joint working can align their actions and work together towards achieving desired outcomes.

Create a team communication plan to encourage team members to collaborate in an organisation. Sit down with your individual team members and collectively decide how different types of information should be communicated.

Determine which channels are most appropriate for an organisations group communication. Establish meeting guidelines to streamline synergy, including preferred meeting days or times.

Recognise the importance of deep-focus work and create an environment that supports it. Encourage team leaders and members to allocate dedicated time for focused work without interruptions. Encourage “Do Not Disturb” settings or calendar blocks to ensure uninterrupted periods of productivity. Consider implementing practices like designated “No Meeting” days, allowing everyone to dive deep into their work.

Effective collaboration tools

Assess your project’s requirements and the cooperation tools that best suit your team’s needs. Consider real-time communication, document sharing, task management, and project tracking. Look for tools that are intuitive, user-friendly, and compatible with the devices and platforms used by your team members.

Tip: TimeTrack’s TaskPlanner allows you to create and organise tasks in a centralised system. You can assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and establish priorities.

Team transparency

Effective coordination thrives on open and transparent communication amongst everyone. Encourage team members to share ideas, insights and challenges throughout the project lifecycle.

Create a culture where every team member’s voice is valued and heard. Encourage active participation and provide opportunities for individuals to contribute their perspectives, expertise, and insights.

Psychological safety is essential for encouraging open communication within teams. When team members feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to share their opinions, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of judgment or negative repercussions.

Good feedback

Constructive feedback is essential for growth and improvement. Encourage team members to provide feedback constructively and respectfully. Regularly acknowledge and appreciate team members’ contributions, and provide specific feedback that helps individuals enhance their skills and performance.

Also, make meetings purposeful and efficient by setting clear agendas, defining objectives, and ensuring active participation. Encourage joint working, and equal participation and create opportunities for quieter team members to contribute.