Today’s successful companies know one thing for certain: they are only as good as their people. And to be their best, those people must be able to work together whenever and wherever they need to, sharing expertise and information to drive productivity, improve outcomes and expand the bottom line. Collaboration must be more fluid as the boundaries between work and life become less distinct and meetings are more frequent, less structured and less formal; geographically diverse; and increasingly limited in size, as companies realize that small group sessions are where productive work gets done. The goal is to enable better decisions, products and services, and customer experiences.
The good news is most businesses already have a leg-up on the process thanks to a millennial cohort that, by 2020, will make up the majority of their employee base. This “sharing generation” has grown up in an environment that encourages and rewards the exchange of knowledge, insight, and expertise. As a result, employees today are not just looking out for Number One. Instead, they are seeking ways to improve their reputation by becoming thought leaders in the organization. Companies can leverage that instinct to drive collaboration throughout the business.