How can you improve collaboration in a team that isn’t working?

When skilled people struggle to collaborate, the cause is rarely just technical.

Organisational factors (such as roles that are not entirely clear, processes that are not aligned or goals that are seen differently) often come into play, together with relational dynamics such as trust, communication or psychological safety.

Typical signs include meetings with little participation, difficulty in bringing forward new ideas, working in silos, or struggling to share problems and mistakes.

Addressing these situations requires a systemic approach: understanding the dynamics at play, working with leaders, creating spaces for discussion and building working agreements that can be put into practice day to day.

A few facilitation meetings and follow-ups are usually needed to consolidate the change.