In business, it’s often the case that you achieve better results if you work as a team. If you can actively promote collaborative working, it’s likely that you’ll hit targets faster and save money in the process. If you run a business, and you’re eager to strengthen your team, here are some simple ways you can create a cohesive workplace.

Setting your office up in the right way

It doesn’t make sense to encourage people to work together on projects if there’s nowhere to get together and talk things through. Many offices today have communal spaces as well as purpose-built meeting areas, which offer flexibility. You can host formal meetings with clients or colleagues or make it easy for coworkers to sit together, run through ideas and chat in a more relaxed setting.You don’t have to deck out rooms with sofas, chairs and giant beanbags, but setting aside comfortable spaces for sharing ideas, having discussions and catching up on progress can be beneficial.

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Keeping communication channels open

Communication is key in business, and today, thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with colleagues. Even if you’re in a different city, state or country, you can still maintain contact with other employees using services like video calls and VOIP. If you have access to the latest technology, you can make and receive calls without paying a fortune, and you can save a huge amount of time and money by eliminating the need for face to face meetings.

Giving everyone a voice

In any office, there will be people who feel confident about standing up and spouting ideas and those who are more reticent to speak. If you’re the boss, it’s beneficial to try and encourage everyone to speak if they feel like they want to. Give everybody a chance to participate in meetings and group discussions and try and create an environment, in which everyone feels comfortable. It can be difficult to get your voice heard if you’re working with strong characters, so a little encouragement and organisation can go a long way.

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Investing in the right software

Many people use computer programs to work on projects these days, and if you use the right software, it’s very easy to cooperate and collaborate. You can update your progress in real time, see what other people have done and share files, images and clips in an instant. You may benefit from using cloud services and programs that are designed for businesses with multiple branches or a large number of employees. It’s worth doing some research and getting advice from experienced IT professionals or business consultants to find the right software for your company.

If you run a business, it’s usually advantageous to try and promote teamwork and cooperation. Even if you have a small team, if everyone pulls together, you’re likely to achieve more. Hopefully, this guide has given you some ideas and useful information to promote collaborative working and make it easier for colleagues to team up to get the job done.