How to Create a Collaborative Culture in the Remote Era
Whether you like it or not, every organisation has a culture, and organisational culture affects every aspect of an employees' work experience. This includes their attachment to a company and its success, and the employees' willingness to collaborate with their colleagues. All these factors shape the overall work environment, which employees will either thrive or struggle under, and of course – the bottom line.
A collaborative culture starts with connection
As the adage goes: no man is an island. Sure, it might be a bit cliche, but it's true. Collaboration forms the backbone of every organisation. Good collaboration taps into the strengths of every employee, allowing work to progress efficiently and innovation to develop. But collaboration can only occur when employees are willing to shoulder the burdens of one another.
This can mean reshuffling responsibilities to unblock bottlenecks, being willing to listen to one another, or simply sharing knowledge required for one's co-workers to get their job done. Naturally, such an environment can be difficult to establish when employees are pitted against one another.
Organisations that evaluate employees based on hard numbers alone tend to create such antagonistic environments. When employees are evaluated comparatively, it takes away much of the incentive for them to help one another. Conversely, when employees are encouraged to work towards a common goal, they will be much more likely to assist one another during times of difficulty. That's because helping their coworkers will mean getting to the finish line faster and accomplishing greater things.
Achieving this requires more than just a reshuffling of KPIs. It requires employees to feel connected to their colleagues and the company they work for.
Why employees feel disconnected at the workplace
Remote working has added a new layer of complexity to collaboration. As people work in different locations and time zones, face-to-face contact is at an all time low. While there are definitely plus sides to this, such as an increase in down time that is necessary for quiet work, physical isolation also makes employees more likely to work in silos.
In the end, workers end up doing more work for the same output as significant portions of projects have to be made redundant or heavily altered at the finalisation stage. According to the Economist, employees are working 30% longer than they did before the pandemic while producing the same level of output.
It appears that some of the disconnect can be attributed to employers not taking time to reach out to employees. According to the 2022 Global Culture Report by O.C. Tanner, 45% of employees cite fewer interactions at work and 57% of them are engaging in fewer work activities.
Whether intentional or not, the lack of both virtual and physical facetime can create the impression that one's colleagues and leaders do not care about them, which can cause an employee's motivation to wane over time. Afterall, if nobody else cares, then why should they?
When employees feel disconnected from the workplace, their likelihood of producing quality work falls by 90%.
What does it take to build a healthy, collaborative culture?
As the workplace transforms, so must the way we establish connection with one another. It is true that we can no longer walk up to someone's desk to ask them for assistance like we once did, but the removal of physical distance should not stop us from seeking and providing clarifications to keep things moving along.
Instead of working under synchronous arrangements, where everyone works at the same time and place, organisations today should incorporate asynchronous elements into their work, where another individual can easily pick up where someone else left off – even if they are working in different time zones and locations.
Doing this would mean establishing clear protocols for communication and tapping into media to allow employees to refer to guidelines as required. Because previous methods of communication such as facial expression and tone of voice are now limited, employees should not be afraid to over communicate in emails and tutorial videos. After all, it is much better to have too much information than have crucial information left out.
6 in 10 employees say their social groups at work inspires them to do their best.
However, beyond just work protocols, employees need to feel like part of a community again. Doing this virtually is actually not as hard as it sounds. After all, most of us live a significant portion of our lives on the internet. Playing online games or having casual conversation over conference calls, or even sending memes on common communication channels are just some of the ways to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Create a culture where everyone belongs and feels connected
Understanding someone else takes time and effort. So does understanding ourselves. We should remember that although we might not be able to choose who our colleagues are, we can change how we respond to them and that's where professional coaching can help.
70% of individuals who receive professional coaching report improved levels of productivity and collaboration.
Through scientifically proven processes of reflection and self discovery, CoachHub can help your employees understand their strengths and how to use them in synergy with their colleagues to achieve the best results.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organisational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognising that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organisation's specific challenges, objectives, and organisational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customised and adaptable. We recognise that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organisation. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organisational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organisation.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organisation. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, travelling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organisations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organisational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customising our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organisation.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximising the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
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