5 proven strategies to improve team collaboration in growing companies

Teams in silos? Missed handovers? Frustrated managers chasing updates? In growing companies, team collaboration often becomes the first casualty of success. As roles multiply and responsibilities blur, even well-meaning teams can find themselves working against each other.

According to Atlassian, poor collaboration leads to a staggering 25 billion hours lost annually across Fortune 500 companies.
The good news? You don’t need another tool. You need a better framework.

Here are five practical strategies to foster better team collaboration and create a more aligned, scalable organisation.

1. Create a shared rhythm, not just shared tools

Team collaboration isn’t a one-time event: it’s a habit. Growing teams thrive when they share a clear cadence of meetings, updates, and alignment moments.

How to apply it:

• Start each week with a short cross-team check-in (15 minutes is enough).
• Define which communication channels are for what (e.g., Slack for quick updates, dashboards for project progress).
• Avoid back-to-back meetings: allow breathing space for actual work.

Bonus tip: Document key decisions in a central hub, so knowledge doesn’t get lost in chats or inboxes.

2. Make ownership crystal clear

When collaboration fails, it’s typically not due to bad intent; it’s due to unclear roles. If everyone owns it, no one does.

How to apply it:

• Use the RACI method (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) on key deliverables.
• Make ownership visible in project dashboards or briefs.
• Revisit and update responsibilities as teams or scopes shift.

 

Bonus tip: Involve the team when defining roles, you’ll spot overlaps and gaps faster.

 

Use case – Defining clear ownership at CCV When we supported CCV in managing their Atlassian ecosystem, one of the biggest blockers to effective collaboration was unclear ownership. Too often, responsibilities were assumed but never explicitly defined. To solve this, we helped CCV establish a governance structure by forming a dedicated internal team responsible for overseeing the Atlassian stack. This group included “super users” embedded in different departments, each with clearly assigned roles. These roles and responsibilities were transparently documented in a shared Confluence table, making it easy for anyone in the company to see who was in charge of what.  The result? Faster decision-making, smoother collaboration across teams, and fewer things falling through the cracks when priorities shifted.

 

3. Build feedback into your collaboration culture

Teams don’t need more status updates. They require space to reflect, learn, and improve. Feedback fuels progress.

How to apply it:

• Schedule short retrospectives after key projects or sprints.
• Use simple formats like “Start, Stop, Continue”.
• Offer feedback training to managers and team leads.

Bonus tip: Recognise feedback that leads to real change. It reinforces the behavior you want.

4. Reward team collaboration, not just output

Most recognition focuses on individual performance. But great teams are built on shared wins.

How to apply it:

• Highlight team achievements in company-wide meetings or newsletters.
• Use peer-nominated shoutouts to spotlight cross-functional collaboration.
• Build collaborative behaviors into performance reviews.

Bonus tip: Spotlight great team efforts and the behaviors that truly made the difference.

5. Start with clarity before you scale with tools

Tools can amplify good collaboration, but they won’t fix broken processes. Start with clarity, then choose the right tech.

How to apply it:

• Map out your core workflows before implementing new platforms.
• Align teams on a single source of truth for project tracking.
• Avoid tool overload by consolidating where possible.

Bonus tip: Appoint internal champions to guide others through tool adoption and best practices.

 

Use case – Creating clarity before scaling tools One of our clients came to us eager to roll out new collaboration tools – but after a few initial workshops, it became clear the real issue wasn’t the tech, it was misalignment. Instead of rushing into tool implementation, we conducted a structured discovery process, starting with a detailed requirements assessment. Together, we mapped out existing workflows, identified pain points, and aligned on shared goals. The outcome was a tailored implementation plan, documented in a collaborative report. This report didn’t just sit on a shelf – it became the project’s central reference point. At every meeting, we returned to it to track progress, adjust as needed, and ensure all stakeholders stayed aligned. By building clarity first, we set the foundation for scalable, tool-supported collaboration.

In conclusion

Team collaboration isn’t about tools, it’s about trust, alignment, and rhythm. With these five strategies, you’re already one step closer to less friction and more momentum. Curious where your biggest roadblocks are? Reach out for a no-stress conversation. We’ll help you boost collaboration, without the hassle.

Ready to take the next step? Get in touch.