{"id":18120,"date":"2022-07-06T18:34:30","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T15:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/?p=18120"},"modified":"2026-02-26T17:02:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:02:32","slug":"improve-employee-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/improve-employee-collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"7 ways to improve employee collaboration\u2014even in remote work settings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collaboration at work is a given. Even if you work on your own most of the time, you still need to sync with other team members at some point. But good<\/em> collaboration is a different story.<\/p>\n

When team members are working together harmoniously, projects are getting done faster, the quality of work goes up, and everyone feels like they belong. The rise of remote and hybrid work has posed new challenges to employee collaboration, though: Can a team work together harmoniously if they\u2019ve never met in person?<\/p>\n

They can\u2014if you set them up for success properly. As an HR manager or team leader, you can ensure your team has tools that facilitate and improve employee collaboration<\/strong> like messaging apps and project management platforms. You can also actively hire new people who are demonstratively good team players.<\/p>\n

But what if you could do more? What if you could take certain steps to ensure that workplace collaboration and synergy are an organic part of your company\u2019s DNA?<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ve listed some ideas that will help you improve employee collaboration, whether your employees are sitting in opposite cubicles or in opposite sides of the ocean.<\/p>\n

What is collaboration at work?<\/h2>\n

Collaboration at work is more than just working together on a project. It’s being able to reach out for help or brainstorming, to exchange ideas and skills, organically and often.<\/p>\n

A truly collaborative work environment is one where this spirit of synergy becomes an integral part of the employee experience<\/strong> \u2014 which Gartner<\/a> defines as \u201chow employees internalize and interpret the interactions they have with and within their organization and the contexts that influence those interactions.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

And having a good employee experience is now more important than ever.<\/p>\n

With the rise of remote and hybrid workplaces, the way employees interact with their companies and colleagues has changed. Lines are becoming more blurred; the borders of who we are at home and who we are at work are not so easily distinguishable. Fostering good relationships and friendly communication between employees is not just a \u201cnice to have\u201d\u2014it can now make or break someone\u2019s day, along with their ability to perform.<\/p>\n

Of course, collaboration at work is not just beneficial for the employees, but also for the work itself. When people from different backgrounds, with different skill sets and ideas, come together in an environment where everyone is respected and encouraged to speak up, finding creative solutions is easier. Difficult projects are completed faster and more successfully.<\/p>\n

When employees feel valued, they tend to become more productive<\/strong>\u2014and higher levels of engagement can be reached. According to Gallup<\/a>, higher levels of engagement translate to 41% lower absenteeism, 24% lower turnover, 17% higher productivity, and 21% higher profitability. Not bad, right?<\/p>\n

It all starts with better communication and collaboration at work.<\/p>\n

7 ideas to improve employee collaboration<\/h2>\n

So how do you ensure your work environment is a truly collaborative one\u2014especially if your team is divided between employees who work at the office and employees who work from home?<\/p>\n

Here are 7 ways to improve employee collaboration and boost teamwork:<\/p>\n

1. Set up the scene with onboarding<\/h3>\n

The onboarding process is one of those that experienced substantial transformation during the pandemic. According to a Toggl survey, 60% of HR managers found remote onboarding to be the biggest adjustment in this new world of work.<\/p>\n

Yet especially now, doing onboarding right is essential.<\/p>\n

Although your onboarding process may look different depending on whether the new employee is an in-office or a remote hire, it shouldn\u2019t \u201cfeel\u201d different. Your onboarding program<\/strong><\/a> should help your employees not only familiarize themselves with their future tasks, but also with the company culture and their colleagues\u2014even those they are not expected to collaborate with that often. For employees they won\u2019t be able to meet personally, online communication options should be defined from the get-go.<\/p>\n

Ideally, during onboarding, your new hires should learn:<\/p>\n