We all know that teamwork and collaboration are the best weaponry to overcome challenges and deliver projects successfully. However, what happens when there is tension or when conflict disrupts the regular order of business? According to senior executives from 20 global organisations, here are three ways to drive motivation through teamwork and conflict for the best results.

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Connect one-on-one

Nurturing dedicated and intentional interactions helps build trust in physical, remote or hybrid work environments. When there is trust amongst individuals in a group, team members will be more inclined to step out of their shells and voice their ideas to bring clarity and creativity to a project. The collective input and mutual transparency will motivate the project forward, sidestepping future obstacles and avoidable misunderstandings. Discover our article on how trusting teams build better companies today.

Connect through unstructured time

Since our workflows blur the once-distinction between in-office meetings and informal exchanges, experts recommend bonding with colleagues spontaneously. “People want to communicate,’ says Rebecca Weintraub, an engagement expert, “What they need are clear expectations, guidance, tools, and opportunities for doing what, in pre-pandemic times, came naturally”. Connecting through unstructured time builds stronger bonds within the team to deliver better results. Learn here how to maintain professional friendships during an era of social distancing.

Connect through conflict

Teams that cultivate trust and build bonds deal with conflict productively as they can recognise the distinction between engaging in a healthy debate versus destructive arguments. In fact, recent research shows that these high-performing teams utilise tension or friction to drive innovation. Here are three types of conflict common in today’s shifting environments and how to leverage them to move the organisation forward.