If you are a business owner with employees, you need to
promote the most effective workplace interaction. Unless
you do, you will have needless struggles within your
organization. Your bottom line will suffer.
Last issue discussed how achieving extraordinary business
results involves understanding the key distinctions between
three types of workplace interaction, competition,
operation, and collaboration.
The Benefits of Collaboration. If you have highly
collaborative interactions in your workplace, you will
enjoy the following benefits:
Your people have more positive productive relationships and
make more effective decisions. Successful outcomes are
more likely because accountability is shared. Work
satisfaction increases because people feel more involved
and included. Workers are willing to give more because
they trust their colleagues. Better communication results
from information being shared more freely. Workers remain
motivated and progress continues in the leader's absence.
The whole environment is more energized.
Guiding Principles. Embrace these guiding principles to
create a collaborative mindset in your organization:
• Open and honest relationships, where everyone can be a
winner.
• Everyone is a valued contributor.
• Everyone owns the results generated in the business.
• Everyone is encouraged to contribute their viewpoint --
numerous perspectives are better than one.
• Constructive conflict is embraced as an opportunity to
expand the possibilities.
• The group can produce outcomes superior to individual
efforts.
• Difference of opinion is welcomed. It increases
creativity.
• A safe atmosphere that encourages trust where people will
contribute fully.
How Collaborative Is Your Workplace? One of the ways to
tell whether your workplace is collaborative is by
listening to the language your people use and the stories
they tell.
Quiz. Identify whether each of these phrases are examples
of competition, cooperation, or collaboration (answers are
at the end of this article)
1) "My opinion has to be heard."
2) "Let's hear everybody's ideas on this and use the best
ones."
3) "You owe me one."
4) "I'll support you on this if you do this for me."
5) "It's not what I can do, is what we can do."
6) "Remember to CYA (cover your a...)."
UnCollaborative Workplace Characteristics:
• People work in closed, separated spaces.
• People tell stories about their personal accomplishments.
• Rewards are given for individual contributions, made from
the top.
• Mistakes are handled by blaming and punishment.
• People handle problems in a reactive manner.
• People try to hide mistakes.
• Conflicts are either avoided or handled aggressively.
• There is a subtle "caste system" where certain groups are
undervalued.
• Business goals are short-term.
• There are no clear guidelines for workplace interactions.
• Getting things done quickly is highly important.
• Being right is very important.
Collaborative Workplace Characteristics:
• People work in open spaces that invite informal
interaction.
• People tell stories about group accomplishments.
• Rewards are given for group achievements.
• Decisions are made on the basis of group or shared
leadership.
• Mistakes are handled as a learning opportunity.
• People handle problems thoughtfully.
• Mistakes are evaluated and may be celebrated for the
daring and courage involved.
• Conflicts are handled in an open, respectful way.
• Everyone is included and valued.
• Business goals are long term.
• There are clear guidelines for workplace interactions.
• Getting things done well is highly important.
• Workplace relationships are very important.
Use these suggestions and guidelines to make your workplace
environment more collaborative and you will enjoy a less
stressful and more productive workplace.
Best wishes, ~Stan
Answers to the quiz given above: Competitive remarks are
numbers 1, 6. Cooperative remarks are numbers 3, 4.
Collaborative remarks are numbers 2, 5.
----------------------------------------------------
Stan Mann, C.P.C. supports business owners, top executives
and commission salespeople to substantially grow their
business and have a balanced life. He is a Certified
Professional Coach. For additional articles and resources
please visit http://www.stanmann.com
No comments:
Post a Comment