Moulding a team of individuals into a cohesive unit can be a frustrating process, but it is essential for the success of any organisation.
There is more of an incentive for employees to work together in a workplace that fosters a sense of community and collaboration, so you must prioritise getting your team on the same page. You want your team to be working in alignment with each other, but there can often be differences of opinion and personality clashes to contend with.
However, with some planning, it is possible to get your team to communicate better and work in harmony towards shared goals.
In this article, we look at how to keep your team on the same page as a manager, keep them pulling in the same direction and help them to become a more engaged and collaborative unit.
Use collaboration software
Allowing employees to work remotely can reduce their stress levels and boost their creativity, but you have to equip them with the software they need to work and collaborate efficiently.
Asana, Slack and Trello are some of the most well-known and widely used online collaboration tools, but there are many more to choose from.
Consolidate data and documentation
Data is essential for the day-to-day functioning and decision-making of any business, but data silos present a big problem for transparency and collaboration. If teams aren’t able to collaborate freely and efficiently on projects, it becomes virtually impossible for the company to share a common vision.
The solution is to use integrated software to consolidate your systems, data and documentation in one place.
Involve them in planning
Let your team brainstorm, ask questions and contribute ideas during strategy meetings.
When employees are treated like valued members of the organisation, they are more likely to feel motivated and aligned with the company’s goals. This can really help to create team synergy that will show in their productivity and radiate throughout the rest of the organisation.
Control the workflow
A well-planned workflow is essential for the efficient running of your day-to-day operations.
Using a task management app will enable you to automate and streamline your team’s to-do lists, recurring tasks, deadlines and feedback. This will help to avoid confusion and keep everyone on the same page.
Schedule alignment meetings
The most successful companies are those that are aligned at every level and actively foster a sense of community in the workplace.
One powerful way to achieve this is to schedule regular ‘alignment’ meetings where the team is invited to share ideas, ask questions, and give and receive feedback on how things are going. This can really help to build a sense of empowerment within the team, and it also highlights the importance of listening to (and addressing) other people’s points of view.
These meetings should not be about the company’s high-level needs and plans, but rather an opportunity to find out what’s working and what’s not. You can uncover any issues that are causing friction and, together, come up with creative solutions that will benefit everyone.
Here are some tips on making these meetings a success:
- Gather feedback on people’s concerns beforehand by sending out an anonymous poll or questionnaire, and dedicate time during the meeting to address them
- Make sure everyone gets the chance to speak
- Agree on a clear process for making decisions
- Display progress towards achieving team goals and plans on a dashboard so everyone can view it
- If a big decision has been made, ensure that everyone understands it. One very effective way to do this is to ask everyone to summarise it in their own words and share it with the group. This way, you know they are all on the same page.
Communication is key
In a survey of 11,000 senior managers, only about one-third of them could name their company’s top three goals, and only half of them could agree on the same top priority.
When senior executives can’t define or agree on the company’s core purpose and values, this leads to increased confusion and fragmentation as it filters down throughout the departments.
It becomes harder and harder for teams to know what they’re working towards, so it’s important to clearly communicate the company’s priorities and continuously check in with the team.
If your organisation needs to improve its communication skills, check out our executive presentation skills training and give your team the power to communicate effectively and influence, persuade and inspire.
Get your team on the same page with our programmes
Investing in presentation skills training for your team can help to improve their communication and the ability to get their messaging right, as well as build their confidence.
For you as a manager, Executive Presence training has a multitude of benefits, helping you to:
- Develop values-based leadership
- Increase your ability to motivate
- Influence and inspire your team
- Improve their cohesiveness and willingness to work together
- Create a positive company culture
You can rely on NxtGEN Executive Presence to help you get your team on the same page through our extensive training programmes.
We offer a host of resources and articles on everything from Executive Presence to Corporate Storytelling, as well as in-person training like Tools for Influencing and Presenting4Success.
Get in touch today and let us help you become the best leader you can be!
