Enhancing Collaboration at Work

26.6.2017

Sometimes the workplace can be very isolating. That’s really unfortunate, because we are all very much more productive when we work together. Mindfulness helps people to work more collaboratively by developing communication skills, empathy for others and helping people at work recognize, and achieve, their potential for attaining shared goals together.

Collaborative leadership

As Reitz and Chaskalson (2016) found in their research into the impact of mindfulness on leadership capabilities, just 10 minutes of mindfulness practice a day enhanced their Mindful Leader research participant’s ability to collaborate. What’s more, the training helped the leaders build their resilience and their capacity to lead in a time of increasing complexity. Leaders who are more mindful do better in their roles. And wherever you start from, it’s possible for everyone to get better at it – to collaborate more successfully and to become a more active team-player.

A mindful leader has the key to unlocking the success of a team by helping everyone to work more collaboratively. The Australian branch of Deloitte produced a report, Collaborative Economy’ which suggest that:

‘Mindful leaders are the key to fostering a heart-connectedness with all stakeholders that allows for trust and collaboration to take place.’

Connecting as part of a team

But becoming part of a team isn’t always easy. For leaders, as much as members of staff, work relationships can be fraught, laden with misconceptions and insecurities. Mindfulness training at work can raise the levels of empathy current in any workplace. According to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness, in their Mindfulness Initiative Report on mindfulness in the workplace, at least 45 different research studies have linked mindfulness to better relationships at work.

The Google Aristotle project began in 2012 with the brief of discovering how to build the perfect team. It found that the best teams respect one another’s emotions and contribute to conversations equally. Mindfulness training can play a big part in helping people develop communication skills and compassion, helping to create mindful teams that work more effectively together.

Introducing collaborative working in the workplace

1. Before bringing your team together, clarify your intention for the group. Is there a specific problem? What outcomes are you looking for? How will you encourage mutual respect and equal contributions?
2. As the leader, observe your thoughts and behaviour. Develop a curiosity for how you act in the situation. Are you dominant or submissive? How can you adapt your behaviour to become an equal team player?
3. Be compassionate with the group and value each and every contribution. Actively listen and stay positive about other people’s ideas.
4. Don’t allow others to lower the tone or use negative retorts and sarcasm. As best you can, always respond in a cool, calm manner. Don’t snap back.
5. Choose your words carefully to keep positive and move ideas on allow your team to build on what’s been said.

To find out more about mindfulness and collaboration in the workplace, contact michael@mindfulnessworks.com or call (+44) 01223 750660