Building and sustaining a collaborative culture
What is really Collaboration?
I always advise my clients to drop buzzwords like “team player” and “people-person”- both in their CVs and job descriptions. True collaborators PROACTIVELY look for partnerships internally and externally. They involve others and are not afraid to ask for their feedback. They encourage knowledge sharing and tolerate different points of view. These traits are a lot more valuable than being likable and able to cope in a team environment. Why? Because experts who embody the essence of collaboration bring people together, act as informal leaders, and ultimately, can exert significant influence over your culture. Especially, if you are building it in a remote setup.
Change the Narrative
Attitude is what matters in 2024 and beyond. Yes, we all have a specific need, a skill for success, a position we have to fill. But what I have seen is that companies tend to make two significant mistakes: promoting the wrong person to become a team manager (in order to retain them) or hiring a toxic individual because they tick all the other boxes. Experience can be taught, behaviour though consists of beliefs, values, and upbringing. We have all heard that diversity brings better results over time, so let’s consider what a culture ADD can bring: inclusion, creativity, innovation, ideation, and a sense of belonging.
The Ultimate Challenge: Me VS We
Not many organisations have figured this one out. Humans have been social creatures from the dawn of time, however, with big changes such as the 4th industrial revolution (IoT), the Gig economy, having 5 generations working together and the rise of remote options, professionals have a plethora of choices for their career development. Cultivating loyalty and hiring the right people whilst increasing retention, have become more complex than 10-15 years ago. Being a remote employee is appealing, but is it sustainable for everyone? What gels people together and helps them establish relationships when they are not having any physical interaction? Perhaps, one of the important things to consider is creating a space where people feel that they are nurtured on an individual and community level. That they are appreciated for the potential they have, as well as their interpersonal competencies and skills for success. Adopting innovation in all your people-related processes (from screening and selection to managing the day-to-day requests) is more affordable than ever. Slack bots that help you drive internal engagement, peer2peer live interview platforms, apps that boost your video interactions. Avail of the technology around you and empower your teams to demonstrate your culture on a daily basis.
Some key action points for every startup owner, manager, HR director, or C-level executive (yes, not just for HR):
1) Clarify your Values and Belief system – this is not the “nice to have” PR-approved statements. Is collaboration truly embedded in your ethos and goals? Is it introduced in how you build your strategy and measure success? Are employees held accountable by each other and willingly adopting these as part of their performance evaluation?
2) What is your Employer DNA & the Skills for success in your specific environment – don’t go for the standard form of a job description, CV screening, and interview selection (years of experience, type of education, and being a “team player”). What unites your people and makes them feel like they belong? Why should they stay in your company?
3) Drive Radical Transparency – sustaining the culture is a team sport. And when you are working in a remote setup, you need to overcommunicate and be 100% more alert about how you come across, how others prefer to interact, what are the challenges with written communication and the potential language barriers. Embrace vulnerability and work on your cultural awareness.
4) Cultivate internal champions – teamwork makes the dream work – and you will need allies to maintain the commitment and ensure people hold each other accountable in your remote space. Look for these proactive, self-driven, and socially-engaged current or future employees who can be your legacy and your voice.
Best of luck!