Unleash Team Success: 4 Proven Workplace Collaboration Examples

Workplace Collaboration Examples for Team Projects

Collaboration in team projects is particularly useful when a project involves multiple areas of expertise or requires knowledge of different processes.

By working together, staff may identify ways to streamline systems and create more effective solutions than any one department could create without collaboration.

Team projects fueled by the right tools and frameworks can also create a sense of comradery among staff members.

It encourages employees to take more initiative, as they sense that their work and insights will be valued not only by the “higher ups”, but also by their coworkers.

And feeling like a valued trusted part of a company’s overall team is crucial.

Below we’ll give examples of how workplace collaboration can show up in a few industries making up today’s vast workforce.

Workplace Collaboration in UX Design Teams

Collaborative design is often a complex process, but at the end of the day, it reduces avoidable setbacks. It encourages a smooth journey to the end product thanks to continuous, real-time feedback from multiple departments.

In the design world, it’s typical that multiple stakeholders are involved in the process. There are often legal requirements in multiple arenas, each requiring the expertise of a different department. 

This adds layer of complexity to the collaborative process that expands beyond the staff members assigned to the initial design task.

This type of workplace collaboration is often known as cross-functional collaboration, but more on that later. Some typical workplace collaboration examples for design projects may include: 

1. Brainstorming – involves numerous conversations between the design team and the client to ensure that everyone understands the project and its potential pitfalls. 
2. Research – this can quickly get complicated. In addition to market research to stay on target with the branding, various forms of technical research are also necessary to form the basis of future design decisions. Teams work together to compile all of the necessary information and, in turn, bridge any gaps in expertise
3. Iteration and user feedback – during this process component, multiple design renditions are crafted, critiqued, and given feedback from various avenues. With multiple styles and origins of feedback to implement, collaborative communication and organizational systems are essential for ensuring no data gets missed. 

Collaboration in Telehealth

Team collaboration in the healthcare industry is essential for ensuring that patients receive top-quality care. 

There are many ways, especially amid the continued popularity of telehealth, that practitioners, office staff, and technical support staff may collaborate to keep things running smoothly. 

Take for example this new collaboration that is bringing mental telehealth services to k-12 students in LA county schools. 

It’s clear to see a few hypothetical scenarios in which the staff in that situation would need to deploy avenues of collaboration amongst their team – not to mention others external to their company. 

For example, to keep appointments flowing smoothly, practitioners will have to ensure that their availability is accurately documented in their scheduling software of choice. 

In the event of an error, a practitioner may have to work with a member of their company’s technical support team to avoid double bookings while the issue is resolved. 

In other telehealth ventures, some workplace collaboration examples include: 

• Ensuring that the marketing of the telehealth service is within legal guidelines. While a practitioner may have an idea for a telehealth startup – onboarding team members with back-end legal knowledge is essential.
• Billing and processing insurance – using insurance for telehealth can be more complicated when compared to in-person patient visits. Practitioners will need to onboard a billing department familiar with the ins and outs of telehealth. 
• Ensuring that the meeting tools are fully functional and working properly during patient appointments. In the event of a major screen lag, or other problem during an appointment, a practitioner may have to work with tech support in real time. 

Collaboration in Cross-Functional Teams

When it comes to implementing cross-functional collaboration, the proof is in the research. In one study, research revealed that groups of 3, 4, and 5 outperformed even the most qualified candidates working individually. 

Cross-functional teams are a great way to take the benefits of collaboration even further. When different departments work together, there is more room for cohesion in the workflow. 

One might say that when teams with different expertise combine their brain power in real time, it’s more efficient and less clunky than piecing together the individual components of a project after the fact. 

Some of the many benefits of implementing cross-functional teams include:

More room for innovation:

• When you implement cross-functional teams, you provide your staff with more room to experience the benefits of a diverse workforce. 
• The more that various teams collaborate in real-time, the more people, and in turn unique perspectives there are to serve as the inspiration for new and expanded ideas. 

Improved workplace satisfaction 

• Company culture plays a large role in overall workplace satisfaction. 
• Cross-functional teams provide a massive opportunity to strengthen this by increasing the level of interaction between all departments, preventing individual teams from becoming “siloed”. 

Increased productivity 

• As we mentioned, the underlying motivation isn’t always about impressing the boss.
• Workers often care deeply about how they are perceived by their peers. For this reason, implementing cross-functional teams may provide an extra incentive for team members to put their best foot forward. 

Smarter risk-taking and boosted creativity 

• Cross-functional teams provide an added sense of security. When different experts come together in agreement regarding how to move forward with an assignment, it makes way for a sense of camaraderie to cushion potential blows. 
• For this reason, implementing cross-functional teams may reduce instances of finger-pointing in the event a risk creates negative consequences. Knowing that there is less of a chance of being ousted for an idea gone wrong leaves people more comfortable with suggesting innovative solutions they may otherwise keep locked away. 

Two Big Players Implementing Cross-Functional Teamwork 

Apple

One principle that Apple stands by as a factor in its success is collaborative debate. For example, it took the collaboration of 40 specialists when working to develop their dual lens camera with “portrait mode”. 

With so many hands on the drawing board, those in upper-level management sometimes act as “tie-breakers”. 

However, with the number of inevitable stalemates that arise, there isn’t always time for those in higher positions to use their authority in those moments, making collaborative skills an essential component of Apple’s overall success across all staff.

Netflix

According to Netflix, “A dream team is one in which all of your colleagues are extraordinary at what they do and highly effective working together.” 

At Netflix, cross-functional teams work closely together while still retaining independence. The goals of the company are clearly defined, specific, and well-known to all employees. Team interactions are focused on overall strategy and objectives rather than specific tactics.

Check out this video to learn more about how Netflix implements collaboration: 

With almost 32 billion in revenue in 2022, it’s clear to see that their prioritization of collaboration is paying off.  

The Right Tools Make or Break Collaborative Efforts 

According to Harvard Business Review, 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional. 

However, you shouldn’t let that statistic discourage you. With a combination of commitment, solid employees, and the right tools you will be well on your way to experiencing the benefits of improving your workplace collaboration practices. 

Scheduling and Collaboration Tools

With hybrid and remote teams especially, working to keep track of scheduling and availability can get complicated. 

Heck, in many cases, you have people working throughout various time zones. With the added flexibility that hybrid work offers, employee availability might not be as predictable. 

The same applies to face-to-face collaboration that’s crucial for employee engagement and productivity. So how do you make in-person collaboration easy for employees?

One way to do it is by taking advantage of technology that entices workers to collaborate in the office. 

Have you already heard of the newest scheduling and collaboration feature of OfficeRnD Hybrid? It helps employees be more connected, have a greater sense of belonging at the workplace, and collaborate with each other.

It also makes scheduling in-person interactions a breeze. That’s possible thanks to:

• A weekly planner that allows employees to see information about existing workplace policies for their organization or team and based on that, plan their office visits
• Office occupancy tab that has a personal weekly Scheduler showing the people that have booked a desk for the day and where their desk is located.
• Improved flows for desk booking in hybrid work environments
• New and improved invite triggers to cover more meeting needs
• A Favorites section to keep tabs on those you collaborate with the most and invite them to join you in the office or book a desk next to theirs, as visible on a beautiful office map.

You can read more about it here or if you like to play with stuff, start a free trial and see the collaborative scheduling features in action.

Virtual Whiteboards

Good old-fashioned brainstorming sessions offer a lot of value. However, the traditional way of going about this in a team setting has various setbacks. Often, it requires a lot of individual note-taking along with an inherent pressure to contribute on the spot. 

This usually results in:

• People talking purely for the sake of appearing invested rather than sharing thoughts they believe hold real value.  

• Lost ideas due to interruptions, manual note-taking, etc. 

Thanks to the rise in solutions meant to make hybrid working simple, there are tools that enable people to upload their project inspiration, thoughts, and other important information as it comes. 

These “virtual whiteboards” are a fantastic upgrade not only for hybrid teams but for all types of workplace collaboration. 

• People can return to the board as needed, taking time to reflect and think things over before contributing or offering feedback.  

• Digital boards are a fantastic way to showcase ideas and inspiration to clients – creating a space for them to give feedback during times when getting on another call might be redundant. This creates more room for collaboration not only between team members but between your company’s talent and your clientele.

Exploring Tech Tools for Real-Time Co-Creating

When a solution is discovered, or a goal is reached, there’s often a distinct energy and excitement that fills the air among those working on the project. 

In hybrid work environments, where people aren’t always working together in the same space, this can be difficult to replicate. Emailing periodically and putting the individual pieces of a project together after the fact can easily fall short in comparison.

• Workers may have a potentially fantastic idea that they forget about while waiting for the next staff meeting

• A team member may misunderstand instructions, or have an error that could be caught early on if working with another contributor in real-time. 

Exploring collaborative tools for editing and file sharing, particularly those that allow multiple people to make changes simultaneously (ClickUp, Google Docs), can go a long way in mitigating this pitfall. 

Streamlined Communication Channels 

Communication is key in any collaborative effort. However, it’s important to streamline your company’s process. 

While it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan, especially in the event of a technical glitch, it’s generally a good idea to have everybody on the same page. 

Having a clearly defined protocol for communication amongst team members can:

• Prevent important information from getting lost in the shuffle, along with reducing instances of staff missing important updates. 

• If you implement a system for designated chat channels, it may also encourage team members to communicate more regularly. 

Without designated, organized channels for various types of communication, there can sometimes be a certain level of intimidation in reaching out with a thought about a project. 

When employees know that there is a designated space, they can rest assured in knowing that there’s space for them to share and that others working on the project will know what the message pertains to and prioritize response times accordingly. 

FAQ

What are some examples of collaboration in the workplace?

Collaboration in the workplace can vary based on the type of work environment your company implements. However, some common examples of collaboration in the workplace include things like brainstorming with other experts on staff, implementing routine reviews and avenues for feedback, or task delegation on a shared project. 

Which is the best example of collaboration?

There is no one “best” example of collaboration in the workplace. What works best for you and your company will depend on various factors such as the size of your team, how many departments it has, and the types of tools that you have available. 

What are the 3 important skills in collaboration?

Three important skills that are important to have in any workplace collaboration scenario include conflict resolution, receptiveness to feedback, and a willingness to learn about new technology. 

What are the 4 types of collaboration?

Four types of collaboration include brainstorming, feedback implementation, task collaboration, and remote collaboration with tools such as video software. However, there are no four set ways to collaborate – feel free to get creative in your efforts. 

How to collaborate more effectively in a hybrid workplace? 

There are multiple ways to collaborate more effectively in a hybrid workplace. The best place to start is learning about the various tools that are available and that fall within the budget that your company implements. Some examples include scheduling software, virtual whiteboards for team brainstorming, and tools for streamlined video and text chat such as Slack, for example.