In an attempt to promote team collaboration and the feel of a democracy, you may bring topics to your leadership team or your full practice team for discussion. We believe that people support what they help to create, and when collaboration is done correctly it results in successful teamwork and buy-in. However, if done incorrectly you risk injuring team morale and frustrating your team members. 

Follow these 6 suggestions to make the most out of collaboration:

#1: Clearly Define the Objective

It’s easy for group discussions to fall off-topic and take numerous directions. To avoid going off on tangents, start out the meeting by defining exactly what it is you hope to accomplish today. For example, if you want to brainstorm and walk away with a list of ideas for a new team member bonus, share that. Or, if you want to talk through a process for onboarding new team members for only clinical roles, be specific so that the topic doesn’t shift towards non-clinical roles as well. 

Also, give the meeting parameters if necessary. So, if you want to end the meeting with a final vote on the ideas, be mindful of the time and give yourself the last 10 minutes of the meeting to take a vote.

The more defined the meeting, the more productive the whole group will be, and the more accomplished you will feel at the end.

#2: Define What is Off Limits 

If you know that there are restrictions or guardrails that you must operate within, be sure to define those at the beginning. Try not to set too many rules to promote brainstorming and out-of-the-box ideas, but define what is non-negotiable. For instance, if you know that the budget for a project is not to exceed $5,000, explain that to the team so they understand the pre-determined guidelines. 

#3: Give Everyone a Chance to Voice Their Opinion

Everyone wants to contribute and feel included, but individuals have varying levels of comfort in expressing their opinion, particularly in a group setting. As a leader, it’s your job to give everyone a safe space and the opportunity to share those ideas. 

A great way to make sure everybody has a chance to share is to go around the table or virtual participant list to ask each person their thoughts on the topic.

#4: Acknowledge All Ideas As Appreciated 

It’s important to nurture the esteem of your team. Although not every idea will be a fantastic one, be sure to thank them for the suggestion and listen with a willingness to learn about their perspective. Every idea has it’s worth, and even the most off-the-wall thoughts may lead to true creativity in problem solving beyond what you thought was possible. 

Additionally, the more you encourage your team to offer suggestions, the more willing they will be to look for solutions to everyday problems. To keep the ideas in your office flowing, always make sure everybody feels valued and appreciated for their contributions.

#5: Keep It From Becoming a Debate 

Group conversations can sometimes take a turn toward negativity, especially when strong opinions emerge. Encourage differences in opinion, but let it be known that you will not tolerate disrespect toward one another. 

It’s important to create a safe place for open discussion without veering off into arguments or hurtful comments. Different opinions are what make us unique, but respectful conversation and the sharing of ideas cannot be compromised.

#6: Be Clear on Who Makes the Final Decision 

If you’re not clear from the outset on how the final decision will be made, you can really crush team spirit. For example, if you as the leader will make the final call, be clear about that point. Share with your team that you’re open to hearing ideas but that ultimately, you’ll make the final call based on what you feel is best for the organization. 

Alternatively, if you want to poll the group and take a vote where the majority vote will be the ultimate decision, share that fact as well. If the team knows ahead of time who makes the final call, they’re less likely to be offended or hurt by the outcome. 

Keep the above list in mind for your next team collaboration. We know you’ll have a great discussion and walk away with the solutions you need for a successful organization! 

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