The notion of collaboration is nothing new to any progressive workplace. Collaboration is the stuff that binds a team together and allows new skills and opportunities to present themselves. As the workplace becomes ever more flexible, more connected and more digital, it is important to keep in mind what forms the basis of effective collaboration, and how to harness its potential in an increasingly fast-paced environment.

Thanks to technology and the ubiquity of digital communication tools, connecting with one another in a work environment has seemingly never been simpler. However, regardless of technology advances, good collaboration between team members, departments and managers will always still rely on organisation and openness between people.

To best cultivate a culture of collaboration in your workplace, you need to first encourage the creation of a platform for open and driven communication.

Clearly communicate open communication expectations

To cultivate a strong and ongoing culture of collaboration, the first step needs to be setting this as the base level of expectation among all team members and leaders. Every team member needs to not only understand their own position, but also the position and responsibilities of those around them. In a collaborative environment, each team member will be aware of what their responsibilities are and how these form part of the greater whole around them.

By clearly communicating to both new and existing team members the wider company expectations that go along with being a part of the team, each person will be on the same page moving forward with any changes, developments or projects.

Set team goals

We are huge advocates for personal and professional goal setting for individuals. Additionally, we are also big advocates for setting regular S.M.A.R.T. team goals.

Ensure these goals are concise, measurable and set at least on a quarterly basis. By having each team focus on goals, individual efforts will stay on track while also aligning group efforts with desired larger outcomes. Team members that feel they are working collectively towards some larger goal will feel more connected to each step towards these larger goals and will also be more invested in the final outcome of their individual efforts.

Encourage a creative atmosphere

Some of the most successful companies in the world are renowned for their creative structures and processes (think on Google and Apple). By allowing team members the opportunity to regularly brainstorm and question in an open and non-judgmental framework, you are encouraging new strategies and solutions to appear, as opposed to focusing on the current roadblocks of a problem.

By nurturing a ‘can do’ attitude and encouraging resourcefulness in your environment you are sending a message to each team member that clearly indicates how important their input and opinion is to the future of the organisation.

Provide social opportunities

Although people are expected to be working when they are at work, human beings are social and curious creatures. We need to feel that we are accepted and acknowledged by those around us to feel comfortable and safe. Along with this feeling of safety comes an accompanying space to think creatively, be ourselves and perform at our peak.

By providing a space for regular social activities in your space you are allowing team members to get to know one another better so they feel more comfortable and more capable of working together. Different personality dynamics, skill sets and experiences will be present in each team. By getting to know one another better, team members will be able to draw on one another’s skill sets to complete projects more effectively and more efficiently.

Leverage the strengths in your team

Position each team member to achieve the most they can by assigning them to tasks that will allow them to succeed. Reward both individual and team accomplishments with acknowledgement, both public and private if the team member is comfortable with this attention.

Establishing a collaboration culture is only the beginning. Collaboration has to be at the forefront of leaders’ minds – it has to be a consistent policy based on openness, mutual respect and a willingness to listen to others. Instead of focusing on just your team members who are excelling, a culture of collaboration calls for the focus to be shifted onto the performance and development of all those who are in your organisation. After all, if everyone who has a voice and a new idea in your team is able to speak and act, imagine the possibilities for performance and productivity that can bring.

When you have an important message, you must be able to deliver it confidently and powerfully. You need to be able to read the room, hone your body language, vocal approach, movement and audience interaction to suit your message and your end goal.

For many, public speaking is a terrifying and utterly paralysing experience. The mere mention of the words ‘public speaking’ can send some into a cold sweat. For others, it can seem as natural as breathing. They are able to control the room with ease and deliver their message without so much as breaking a sweat. How do they do it? For a select few, it does come naturally. For the majority of great public speakers though, it is a skill they have honed over time with a lot of feedback, fine-tuning and of course, practice.

No matter your role or your industry, there will no doubt be a time when you have to present to a group of people. This may be for an inter-office presentation for a new project, to a large conference or seminar piece, anywhere through to a meeting for a promotion. Regardless of the occasion, or the size of the audience, the skills of public speaking are transferable and necessary for success in these and a variety of other occasions.

If you are a rookie to public speaking, don’t sweat it. There are some tried and tested methods that you can employ to improve your chances for success. Similarly, even if you consider yourself to be an old hat at public speaking, it doesn’t hurt to check back in with this checklist and ensure you are giving yourself the best chance for success at your next speaking engagement.

Allow yourself to move

Many of those new to public speaking forget how important movement is to maintaining the attention of their audience. Conversely, some mistake this to mean that they need to be constantly moving to hold their audience captive. It is a fine balance, but one you can definitely tune over time. Think of how you move and place various parts of your body when you are talking one-on-one to people. That stance and those movements are your natural ones you use to engage those around you. Return to these gestures and level of movement whenever you get stressed in the moment.

Crank up the energy

Your audience is looking to you for how to react – you are the catalyst for the reactions that will follow. Knowing this, it is clear that if you want to have an audience that is engaged and active, you yourself have to be engaging and active. Be sure to crank up the energy levels when you are speaking. You will command more attention and will project more of your natural confidence and charisma.

Be Prepared

It will take a particularly gifted person to be able to consistently stand in front of others and speak confidently with no preparation. For the rest of us, preparation is a must. Experienced speakers do plenty of research so that they feel confident in their material and their ability to deliver it. Also, preparation is essential to be on your toes to answer any questions that may come your way after the presentation. It’s important to go through multiple iterations of your material, revising and editing it to achieve the most polished and finished delivery you can muster.

Practice!

Every experienced speaker will tell you this one important truism: great speeches take practice. Experienced speakers will often do many dry runs of their material in front of a trusted audience, namely their family, friends or colleagues. They will replicate the environment the real event will take place in as close as possible. They’ll choreograph their movements and gestures to punctuate important points throughout the speech. They will recognise their weak points and will put more effort into turning these weaknesses into strengths. Great speeches rarely, if ever, just happen.

Present a digestible amount of information

Although you need to be prepared for your speech with the most amount of information you can gather, you also need to be an adept editor of your own speech. Many speakers feel compelled to get through as much material as possible to get their point across. This can lead to rushing, poor explanation of your points and in general, an unintelligible presentation. Being prepared also includes understanding what you need to present to your audience to demonstrate your point, while still maintaining their attention. Always have a little more information up your sleeve than you present in your initial speech. This is useful for Q & A sessions and any follow up questions you may receive. Remember, if you getting asked questions it usually means you stimulated someone’s mind or provoked a further thought. It’s better to do this than lull your audience to sleep with an extended presentation devoid of space for free thinking.

Want to know if you are an effective communicator? Check out the LMA Effective Communication Checklist and give yourself a communication audit to improve your skills.