Since the beginning of time, humans have cooperated with each other to survive harsh environments.

This is true for the workplace too. Giving someone some help and support in the office often results in a win-win situation. A person in need of help receives it, and a collegial friendship is formed.

Team cooperation and collaboration are essential for teams to overcome challenges, and today we’re breaking these two terms down.

Read on to understand more deeply how cooperation and collaboration are the glue that holds teams together.

How do we define “collaboration” and “cooperation”?

Collaboration and cooperation have often been used interchangeably, to describe the same action. But that isn’t quite right. The two terms are not identical, and understanding the difference can improve the way teams work together and deliver group projects. 

Collaboration is when two or more people work together to achieve a shared goal, creating something they both (at least partially) own. Collaborating on a project means that once the work is complete there is a sense of ownership for all contributors.

Cooperation is when two or more people work together to help someone else achieve their goals. Cooperation doesn’t have the same sense of shared ownership. Even outside of the workplace, people have cooperated for thousands of years to achieve some kind of goal. Children cooperate with one another by sharing toys, which usually ends with both of them achieving their own form of happiness.

Should I aim for collaboration or cooperation in the workplace?

When managers and organizations create and structure a new team, they often wonder whether they should be more focused on creating an atmosphere of collaboration or of cooperation. Establishing roles and responsibilities is an essential part of team forming.

If you’re unsure whether your teams should be prioritizing collaboration or cooperation, it’s important to understand that both styles have their own benefits. Ultimately, a healthy balance between the two is the best course of action. You need team members who can take responsibility and ownership, but you also need people who are open to adjustments when they receive feedback.

How is collaboration used in the workplace?

Companies around the world harness the power of team collaboration in group projects and utilize it to achieve the organization’s goals. Modern business practices encourage new forms of project ownership and shared responsibility.

Here are a few forms of collaboration at work:

Brainstorming team sessions

If a group project requires a lot of brainstorming and ideation forming, then collaboration needs to happen in the early stages of the project. A simple example could be a new advertising campaign. A team might not yet have an idea of who exactly is their target audience, so they’re unsure about exactly how to market the campaign. At this point, everyone should chip in with their ideas about who the customers should be. A team leader can use collaborative leadership to step into the ideation process too. Once the session is done, the group can then select the best ideas to go with. Here we see collaboration and shared responsibility in ideation forming and brainstorming.

Surveys and feedback for internal improvements 

For many companies around the world, surveying their employees helps the company make internal improvements.  Many companies survey their employees for feedback and then make changes and iterations based on what they find. For example, Target surveys its employees to get feedback about organizational operations. These anonymous forms are personally read by HR staff, and iterations are made within the company that are tailored toward the feedback.

Artistic and creative collaboration

 As projects develop, a group leader may decide to take a moment to question the project’s success so far. It might not happen often, but sometimes a change needs to be made. Think about a new product launch, where the leader expected certain results at the early stage. Early reports show something isn’t quite right, and a change of direction needs to take place. At this point, the project leader may ask the team for collaborative ideas on where to go next. It’s a little bit like how the legendary Marvel Comics writer Stan Lee used to work. His unique collaborative style involved creating the main idea for a story, then letting illustrators fill pages with drawings, and he’d decide where to head next. 

Achieving team-specific goals

As a group works on a project at work, their final aim is of course to benefit the company. However, as the project evolves, the team may have its own objectives that are not directly related to the specific goals of the company. For example, a team leader could set a goal for salespeople in the group to achieve a specific number of sales. If the objective is met, a positive surge happens in the group which can massively benefit the team as a whole. Individuals in a team creating their own goals can provide a huge motivational boost, and collaborating on personal goals is highly beneficial in a group project. Collaborative games and activities can harness and sharpen collaborative skills, so keen managers can employ these throughout the process.

Cross-functional collaboration

As a workforce grows, different departments need to be led by individual leaders. Cross-functional collaboration is when the lines between departments blur and larger teams form. At this point, collaboration is extremely important, and leaders need to ensure that ownership and responsibilities are clear. Cross-functional collaboration is a very powerful tool when used correctly. It allows for collaboration between your workplace experts and can boost team synergy across the whole organization. 

How does cooperation affect the workplace?

Cooperation at work happens every day. It’s such an intrinsic part of business operations that we may not even realize how frequently we are cooperating. Cooperation in its simplest form revolves around working together and providing help or support to someone.

More often than not, helping out our teammates can make or break the success of a team project. Cooperation is the cornerstone for success for many businesses, so let’s look at how cooperation applies to a workplace, and some examples in action:

Receiving and executing delegations

A team member following the team leader is cooperating with them. The team leader often takes ownership and responsibility for a project. Leaders need to understand the strengths of their teams and delegate tasks accordingly. A team member who receives the delegation should strive to meet the leader’s objectives as best as they can. Leadership is at its strongest when the leader trusts team members to execute their tasks. 

Resolving conflicts

Conflict resolution can be a form of cooperation too. Conflicts happen when working in a team, they are a natural part of growth. Having the ability to find outcomes that satisfy both parties in a conflict actually improves team synergy. A conflict or argument at work can make both parties feel that they need some form of compensation. If an outcome is proposed that satisfies both affected parties, a resolution can be made. In this sense, resolving conflicts can be seen as a form of cooperation, and cooperation skills can be improved by working on the way you handle a dispute.

Giving a little help

Giving a helping hand to colleagues is another form of cooperation all of us do at work, every day. This could be as simple as the person sitting next to you asking for help designing their PowerPoint presentation. This person knows you’re skilled in making attractive PPTs, so they ask you for a little guidance. They have an aim to deliver the best presentation they can, and this aim probably doesn’t affect you much. And yet you give a helping hand, as you know that one day you might need help from them, too. Or, you might just help them because it’s nice to be nice. Either way, we can see a form of cooperation here that is beneficial for teams.  

When people stop helping one another with tasks, group cohesion becomes weaker. A team becoming uncooperative is one of the biggest reasons why teamwork fails. Keep the principles of collaboration and cooperation strong and healthy to ensure efficient teamwork.

Strategies to improve collaboration and cooperation

Collaborative and cooperative team structures have many things in common. Both rely on working together to achieve the target set by the company.

To strengthen collaboration and cooperation, there are principles you can encourage for your teams. Some of these principles are shared between the two terms, so employ these principles in a way that fits the context of your team setup:

Improving collaboration in the workplace:

Employ these principles to strengthen collaboration, or dive deeper into our project collaboration tips!

• Create an atmosphere of open communication: As team members collaborate, open dialogue and free expression can help everyone get onto the same page. When communication is at its highest, a team leader can adjust the group strategy based on the feedback
• Completely optimize collaboration tools: The output of team collaboration can rely on the tools needed to create it. You may already have strong teams who work well together and collaborate to make amazing projects. But have you optimized your equipment? Choosing the right in-office and remote collaboration tools could make a world of difference.
• Strengthen cross-department interactions: For larger companies with specific functions for each department, there will come times when cross-departmental collaboration is needed. If these departments haven’t interacted with each other, it could be a recipe for disaster. It doesn’t take much to help departments get to know each other. Organize social and professional workshops to help departments integrate.

Improving cooperation at work

Strong cooperation is essential to the long-term health of all teams. Integrate these principles to keep cooperation strong:

• Offer support networks: Team cooperation often involves team leaders delegating tasks. Team members execute tasks as best as they can, but sometimes they may have their own questions that they don’t vocalize. Develop a strong support network so people have a place for any help they need.
• Digitize resources: Having project resources readily available massively helps cooperation. Online cloud storage filled with resources can be more easily shared. Make sure there is ease of access to all beneficial resources to strengthen cooperation.
• Keep shouting out hard work!: As we knuckle down and focus on difficult tasks, it’s inevitable that sometimes hard work can go unnoticed. If a team member does a standout job and goes unrecognized, they might feel really hurt, and not even mention it. Keep a close eye on standout performers and shout them out on group communication channels.

Harness the power of collaboration and cooperation on a team retreat!

When teams function well together, watching them collaborate and cooperate is electrifying. We’ve all seen sparks fly when teams work well together. One of the best ways to elevate your teams to the next level is getting everyone in the company together on a team-building retreat.

Here at Surf Office, organizing team retreats is what we do best.  

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Here’s what we offer:

• Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
• Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
• Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
• Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
• Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
• Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅

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Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.

Never underestimate the power of solidified team bonds. Integrate collaboration games and activities on a team-building retreat, and watch your teams touch the sky!

Let us sort out the tricky logistics for you. Spaces are very limited, so get in touch now!