Workplace Transparency: The Future of Teamwork

The future of teamwork is all about workplace transparency. Teamwork is no longer hidden behind vertical blinds or within conference room B; today’s teamwork is out in the open, at least in theory. Many new software platforms include features that put goals, accountability and even salaries out in the open. And just in time too! A full three-quarters of workers would rather be on their own. Why? Because 70% of respondents in a study by the University of Phoenix cite being part of a dysfunctional team. In order for teamwork to continue being the bedrock of productivity, workplace transparency is key.

The future of teamwork is also technology enabled. Technologies like Skype, Yammer, Dropbox and Remote Check-in apps are making remote teamwork more possible than many of us believed. Global Workplace Analytics reports an 80% increase in the number of remote workers since 2005, meaning this couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Analysts have no reason to believe the numbers will not continue to grow. Finding tools that support this growth (and training users on the platforms) is in part, fueling the growth of consumer based apps.

The future of teamwork is ROWE. Can you believe I am dragging ROWE right back out of the trash? I am. Results-based work, while not the productivity panacea we thought it would be, is proving to be the work-type of future collaboration. Why? Because accountability is tied into both the aforementioned qualities. It is nearly impossible to have a fully functional and productive team without comprehensive (but brief) check-ins based on goals, and many of the tools that support these progressive results based teams were created to support the remote (and in-office) teams.

The future of teamwork is engaged. With talent management pros across the globe trying to “solve” the issue of employee engagement, more attention will (and should!) be paid to the correlation between strong, functional teams and the profile of the engaged worker. The engaged among us (13%) are “aligned with company values” and “have a friend or best friend at work” and lest you think this only holds true for cubicle dwellers, in fact, multiple studies have shown the opposite.

According to a Gallup poll on the engagement of remote workers, working remotely less than 20% of the time is very good for engagement. We also know that working remotely frees up time for the worker and saves the company resources.

The future of teamwork is less about open office plans and more about the characteristics that will make workers more engaged, less frustrated and free to continue to innovate within the enterprise with workplace transparency. What does your future team look like?

This post originally appeared on GlassDoor.

Maren Hogan

Maren Hogan is CEO of Red Branch and general Bad@$$

Maren Hogan is a seasoned marketer and community builder in the HR and Recruiting industry. Maren started Red Branch Media and, before she hired all the smiling faces you see below, she ran it on her own. In marketing for over 15 years, she has deep experience in strategic campaigns and a long-term, results-based operational approach.