Every business investing in advanced online collaboration shows that collaboration is highly valued at the workplace. Directors and managers always encourage collaboration as it is essential to innovate and develop and deliver projects on time. Creative collaboration is a new buzzword. In this article, we will see what creative collaboration is. Can existing online collaboration tools for businesses to support and encourage creative collaboration? Can creative collaboration drive long-term success?
Organizations are attempting to diversify their communication. It requires a well-established process to flourish innovative collaboration.
Define Rules and Roles
Not having well-defined rules and roles lead to chaos and unpredictability. Large companies have politics of budgets, governance workflows and payment procedures. It is difficult to adapt to rapid changes in the digital landscape.
Creative collaboration requires rules and roles and openness to embrace new tools and practices. However, there should not be a hierarchy trap in which ideas are to please the management. So, team members should be at the same hierarchical level and have defined roles. Team leaders or managers should not lose focus of the expected outcomes. The team can set performance expectations and focus on the bigger picture.
When it comes to rules, team members must have an understanding of the vocabulary, rules, and goals. Creative collaboration works when everyone is on the same page.
Encourage Communication
Effective collaboration does more than bringing creative minds together. It is a skill. Diversity encourages debates, questions, and criticism. Team members should be told that no question is a dumb question. As people have different communication styles, each team member should be able to understand the point of view of other team members. You should lead by example to show the integrity you want in your team. Also set accountabilities. Your team should have both mutual respect and competitiveness.
Communication is critical to determine why things are not working and what should be done. Effective communication guides the team to find a solution. Effective communication is not possible without good online collaboration tools for business.
Establish Shared Vision and Goal
Team members need to know why they are implementing specific practices to achieve creative collaboration. They should have shared objectives. Half of the problem is already solved when they know what they are attempting to achieve. You need to define the steps to achieve that objective.
Use the Best Tools
It is good to have the right talent, but you need the right tools as well. You also need to integrate your digital strategy with the overall strategy of the organization. 90% of digitally maturing organizations are doing this. Online collaboration tools streamline workflows and support creative collaboration. Cloud-based communication tools allow team members to share their creative ideas.
Advantages of Creative Collaboration
Reduces Frustration
There are limitations to using phone calls and emails for communication. These limitations can lead to delays and frustrations. Email and phone calls are still relevant but not good enough for communications related to workflows and projects. It requires online collaboration tools.
Eliminates Physical Barriers
In creative collaboration, a website designer from a remote location can easily collaborate with onsite website developers. Creative individuals can remotely collaborate to innovate and deliver better results. As there are no physical barriers, you can hire talent from any part of the world. You not only get real-time contributions but feedback as well.
Shortens Time to Completion
Every business wants to enter the market with something innovative before its competitors. Creative collaboration can give you a competitive advantage. You have a team of open-minded people working together from different locations. This brings different ideas and perspectives. You can easily find new ideas and quickly validate them before implementation.