Organisations are increasingly prioritising collaboration in the workplace as a key reason to draw people back to the office. But without unpacking the nuanced meaning behind ‘collaboration’, it can become a hollow catch-all for communications, connectivity, meetings and shared spaces – diluting its potential.

In a conversation with Craig Murray, TSK’s Workplace Strategy Director, we peel back the layers to understand what lies beyond the buzzword, and how to truly bring collaboration to life in our workplaces. 

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Realising the potential of collaboration

At its core, collaboration is “the action of working with someone to produce something”. This definition is either vague or full of potential, depending on how we approach it.

Ultimately, collaboration is about shared purpose. It goes beyond gathering people in a physical space; it’s about mutual accountability, joint problem-solving and reaching goals together. 

For collaboration to succeed, organisations must first define what it looks like in their unique context.

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‍Distinguishing communication from collaboration

There’s a tendency to conflate collaboration with communication. While communication is the exchange of information, collaboration uses that information to generate solutions or achieve goals. 

Often, meetings or workshops end up becoming ‘communication-only’ exchanges with no actionable outcomes. To encourage true collaboration, leaders should challenge themselves to rethink its purpose.

Flaws in the ‘build it and they will come’ approach

To assume that building collaborative spaces equals collaborative behaviours is an overly simplistic and flawed approach. Collaboration is about actions and behaviours – spaces alone don’t collaborate, people do. 

“spaces alone don’t collaborate, people do.”

‍Structured and organic collaboration

A well-designed workplace accommodates different behaviours by offering settings for various types of collaboration – from formal brainstorming to spontaneous conversations. Collaboration typically occurs in two main forms: structured (like project meetings) and organic (like spontaneous idea generation).

Each type serves a purpose, and a workplace that supports both ensures a balance of planning and creativity. Structured collaboration helps teams focus on clear objectives, while organic interactions often spark unexpected creativity.

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Supporting a diverse workforce

To be truly collaborative, organisations need to cater to diverse preferences and working styles so that all team members feel valued and comfortable contributing.

For instance, traditional collaborative spaces may not suit introverted or neurodiverse employees. By offering a range of purposeful options such as open zones, quiet rooms, and semi-private areas, organisations can create settings that meet different needs and encourage all voices to be heard.

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Bringing spaces to life through activation

Design alone isn’t enough to encourage collaboration. Activation – the process of guiding employees on how to use spaces – can turn a standard office layout into an effective collaboration hub. Employee engagement plays a key role in ensuring these spaces are used as intended. 

Through activation programmes, training sessions and leadership support, leaders can establish habits and expectations that turn spaces into purposeful environments where teamwork and productivity flourish. 

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Applying your unique organisational context

For collaboration to be effective, it needs context. Organisations should align collaborative efforts with their broader goals and values. Industries and teams have unique needs – for instance, a creative agency’s approach to collaboration will naturally differ from a law firm’s. 

True collaboration goes beyond shared spaces or meeting rooms; it’s about building a culture that values purposeful, impact-driven teamwork. Designing spaces that support collaborative behaviours, actively engaging employees and aligning teamwork with strategic goals will result in productive and meaningful interactions.

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So, what does collaboration mean for your organisation?

Our workplace consultancy team are here to help you redefine your workplace strategy and improve your approach to collaboration across your organisation. Get in touch with us here to find out more about how we can support you.