The spirit of collaboration is often perceived as the backbone of an organisation. But what does it take to truly foster a culture deep-rooted in connection and innovation - where employees can thrive together? The answer lies in creating workplaces where diverse perspectives are celebrated and teams transcend their potential through genuine, meaningful connections.

These ideas were elaborately discussed in our recent webinar, ‘Synergy in Action: Fostering Collaboration with a People-Centric Focus,’ in association with Marg Business Transformation, Emergenetics’ Authorized Partner in India. With actionable strategies around driving sustainable collaboration, the webinar spelt out what it means to build workplaces that value cognitive diversity. 

Moderated by Sudeshna Basu Roy, CEO of Marg Business Transformation, the session included thought-provoking perspectives shared by Sinead Devlin, Regional Director and Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at Emergenetics, Colin Yeow, Master Associate and Regional Director of Emergenetics Asia Pacific, and Krish K,  Director of MARG Business Transformation.

Rethinking collaboration beyond silos

Collaboration ceases to be merely about technology or frameworks - it’s about people. On the evolving dynamics of workplace collaboration, Sinead highlighted how organisations that put their people first, equipping them with the necessary tools and soft skills for meaningful engagement, are the ones that excel at collaboration. Colin emphasised that while the current workplaces have more frameworks and platforms, collaboration still falters when mindsets and leadership cultures fail to align. Building on this, Krish pointed out how silos persist even as collaborative tools push for horizontal integration and called the need for a reimagination of organisational culture. 

From friction to fusion

Reflecting on the challenges a multigenerational workforce faces, Sinead stressed the need for leaders to adapt to diverse work styles. With the 2025 workforce expected to comprise 75% of millennials and Gen Z rapidly entering the fray, Sinead suggested equipping leaders with the necessary skills pertaining to communication and conflict resolution to ensure synchronisation and collaboration across generational divides. 

Colin added that the key to reducing generational divides is to foster a culture uniting varying perspectives. He stressed that the creation of a collaborative culture cannot be left to chance. Instead, organisations must prioritise these "soft" skills - better framed as critical skills - at every level. 

Generational labels need to be transcended to build high-performing teams, highlighted Krish. He emphasised intentional identity-building to foster an inclusive and collaborative culture that echoes the opportunities to drive growth and harbour innovation.

Redefining leadership impact 

Leadership in today’s evolving corporate landscape, calls for a shift towards broader and more systematic strategies. Krish discussed the significance of alignment - leaders must ensure their words, actions, and values are consistently aligned to fortify trust and credibility. Rather than instigating competition among future leaders, nurturing and empowering them as one collective voice will enhance the spirit of collaboration and help address organisational challenges.

Sinead shared some suggestions to develop leaders early on - equipping them with skills like self-awareness and those required to transition seamlessly into roles of influence. Colin discussed that broadening the leadership’s perspectives is essential to adopting a “Me to We” mindset. Connections must be recognised and nurtured beyond one’s own team. 

Driving a people-first revolution

Towards the end of the session, the panellists discussed actionable steps to embed a people-first mindset in organisations. They collectively underscored the significance of ensuring the leadership’s actions align with the organisation’s values. Embracing diverse perspectives across teams, personalising approaches per individual needs, experimenting with processes to identify effective behaviours, and establishing measurable metrics to track progress can lead the charge towards a successful collaborative and people-first organisation.