“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
Have you ever wondered why starlings fly so close together? When a bird of prey, such as a hawk descends, the tiny starlings instinctively form a tight formation to fight a predator. Somehow, they understand that collectively they are stronger than when flying alone. Similarly, teams who form strong bonds find strength and protection in collaborative relationships, especially when working remotely.
With more and more people working from a variety of locations, leaders want to be sure their teams are working productively. Employees express advantages such as greater flexibility, more time for family and hobbies as well as increased work productivity. For some, however, it can lead to feelings of isolation, disconnection, mental health issues and less collaboration. In fact, a growing number of employees are expressing feelings of loneliness. Yet according to Gallup research, with intentional practices, leaders can promote stronger, supportive relationships at work, resulting in employees with a more positive outlook. As a leader, be mindful of how your actions build greater collaboration and higher-performing teams. Consider the following:
- Don’t leave collaboration to chance. Establish team goals and design opportunities for different team members to work together.
- Keep colleagues informed about initiatives and decisions. Provide regular check-ins individually and as a team so that all understand how their work together matters and is valued. Be sure to explain how decisions are and will be made.
- Share resources and credit for success. Encourage and model ways to distribute resources for the overall good and celebrate team wins rather than individual success.
- Build psychological safety to see things differently. Encourage differences of opinion as a way to improve open relationships and performance. Ask for unique ways of seeing the same issue to stimulate curiosity and innovation. Reward those who take a risk to offer something unusual.
The best leaders engage employees in ways that appeal to their unique sensibilities. They mindfully embrace change and support differing preferences to build engaged, connected teams where members trust each other.
If someone still seems isolated, check in with them because addressing loneliness at work is essential for fostering a healthy, productive, and engaged team. Consider the following ideas to work with any employees who may show signs of potential loneliness: Address Loneliness in Remote Work Checklist.
Innolect is ready to help you build collaborative, high-performance teams. Reach out to talk with one of our consultants today:
innolectinc.com/contact-us/