In 2009 we are all being expected to tighten our belts and get serious about collaboration. In school we're often taught not to share our work, to compete with others in our classes, and to be at the top of the bell curve. In organizations we need to operate from another paradigm - that work shared is work halved! Collaboration and teamwork are the key to staying productive, increasing morale, and promoting healthy workplace engagement. Three ways to encourage collaboration are:

#1 - Reward the group, not the individual. Make sure when you publicly acknowledge people that it's for accomplishments created in teams or groups, and that every member is called out.

#2 - Build a team oriented culture by creating team rituals. This can be as simple as a monthly sit-down lunch, or something you do to kick off or end every team meeting. At KS&C we encourage our clients to end meetings with a simple exercise in which each person must be acknowledged or appreciated prior to leaving the table. These exercises may start out with some awkwardness in the beginning, but they broaden and build positivity and engagement over time. We hear from teams who swear by it!

#3 - Stop just doing one-on-one meetings, and start meeting with small groups. As a manager this may even lighten your load. Make sure to set clear expectations for the meetings, and state your intent behind them. It may be "to encourage team collaboration" or "to check in to see where I can provide support". Both messages show your positive intent as a leader, and help to communicate the fact that you are there to ensure team success.