If they were on a football field or rugby pitch, would they all pull together and work as one to move the ball forward, score goals and win the match? Or are they really a bunch of individuals, of varying levels of skill and dedication, who all happen to work side by side? They’re good with the ball, perhaps, but not very good at passing it.

How a team works together matters.

Collaboration drives efficiency, productivity and results. Done well, collaboration can make your team more motivated, more innovative and more loyal. So, why wouldn’t you embrace the power of collaboration in your workshop?

The benefits of collaboration in an auto workshop

Here are some key reasons to foster collaboration:

1. Increased efficiency and productivity

   When your technicians share knowledge with each other, they can resolve issues more quickly and effectively. This enhances productivity but it also lifts the skills and knowledge levels of those around them.

2. Improved problem-solving and innovation

   By encouraging your team to contribute ideas and suggest improvements, you create a positive workplace that embraces innovative thinking, streamlines processes, and develops new ideas.

3. A more positive culture and better employee retention

   Teams work when there’s a sense of camaraderie, shared purpose, and mutual respect. When your team feels valued and included, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to their work. Ultimately, this improves employee retention and gives you a competitive edge in attracting top talent—which is not to be sneezed at in an ongoing skills shortage.

Teamwork makes the dream work

This isn’t just some fluffy idea. There’s real data behind it. According to a 2014 Australian study by Deloitte, The Collaborative Economy, when employees collaborate:

• They work on average 15 per cent faster

• 73 per cent do better work

• 6 in 10 are innovative

• 56 per cent are more satisfied

• Businesses are twice as likely to outgrow their competitors

• Businesses are more likely to improve their profit.

The study defined workplace collaboration as “employees communicating and working together, building on each other’s ideas to provide something new or do something differently” Further, it said: “A collaborative organisation unlocks the potential, capacity and knowledge of every employee, thereby generating value and innovation and improving productivity in its workplace”.

If that all sounds like buzzwords, think again. Collaboration—teamwork—is what wins teams a Grand Final. It’s what makes the All Blacks the All Blacks. And it’s what can make your workshop hum like a well-oiled machine.

So, how can we reap the benefits in our workshops?

Practical tips for fostering collaboration in your workshop

If you’re sold on the benefits of collaboration, here are some practical ideas to encourage more collaboration among your team:

1. Encourage open communication

   Create opportunities for your team to share their ideas, experiences, and feedback. Regular team meetings, skill-sharing sessions, and open-door policies can all contribute to an environment where communication flows freely.

2. Promote knowledge sharing

   Training initiatives and mentoring within your team allow your technicians to learn from each other's expertise and expand their own knowledge. It also creates a healthy culture of continuous learning and improvement.

3. Involve your team in decision-making

   Seek input from your team when making important decisions that affect their work. Should you invest in a certain piece of equipment? Would they use it? What training do they want? This not only fosters a sense of ownership and buy-in but ensures you benefit from their insights, too.

4. Set a mission, goals and rules

   It’s easier to pull together if you know what direction you’re meant to be pulling in. Share with your team your goals for the month, the year, the future, so everyone knows what the plan is. Give them a stake in that plan with incentives and encouragement.

5. Celebrate successes and recognise effort

   It reinforces the sense of shared accomplishment and motivates your team to continue working well together.

6. Lead by example

   You’re the boss, so you set the tone for your workshop’s culture. If you model collaborative behaviour, foster open communication, and encourage teamwork through your actions and leadership style, your team will follow suit.

By fostering a collaborative environment within your workshop you have the possibility to unlock your team’s full potential and position your business for the long-term growth and prosperity you want.

Just like a coach makes the big calls on the rugby pitch, or the captain sets the culture by being a team player on and off the football field, we have it in our power to make the changes that will improve our team’s outcomes.

With such obvious benefits, excellent collaboration should be the goal of every leader, everywhere.