Some days, collaboration feels easy. Ideas bounce, messages fly, and they actually did turn that one meeting into an email. Other days, however, working with others can feel like you're stuck in a group project where nobody wants to do their share. But when it clicks, collaboration can be magic.
"Successful collaboration allows for a host of benefits that are essential to success: innovation, agility, and speed," said Shani Harmon, Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This.
True teamwork requires intention—and a little practice. That's where International Coworking Day comes in. Celebrated every year on August 9, it honors the global coworking movement and the communities that come with it. In this guide, you'll learn nine practical tips to level up your collaboration game just in time for this special holiday.
1. Start with a Clear Guide
If you've ever been confused by a teammate's delayed replies, last-minute edits, or 2 a.m. brainstorming dumps, you know the value of clarity. A "How To Work With You" guide is a quick one-pager that outlines your ideal work style, communication preferences, and quirks. It's a cheat sheet for how you work best!
"Most tension at work comes from mismatched expectations, not bad intentions," explained Kim Wileman, Founder and CEO of No Makeup Makeup. "A short guide can prevent small misunderstandings from turning into larger frustrations."
Use bullet points to keep it simple. Share when you're online, how you handle feedback, what tools you prefer, and what slows you down. Pin it to your profile or shared team hub—it's a small lift that can pay off quickly.
2. Use Voice Notes Instead of Long Messages
Walls of text are easy to ignore and hard to write. When you need to explain something that doesn't quite fit in bullet points, send a voice note. It can capture your tone, emotion, and context in a way that text sometimes struggles to.
"People forget how much nuance can get lost in writing," expressed Sarah Pierson, Co-Founder of Margaux, a company that specializes in Mary Jane flats. "A 30-second voice note can save you three paragraphs and a full round of clarifying questions later."
Most messaging collaboration tools support voice recordings. Use them to give feedback, brainstorm ideas, or respond to a complicated ask. Speak casually, clearly, and concisely, just as you would in a hallway chat.
3. Declare a Shared "Deep Work Hour"
Constant pings and pop-ups can make it hard to focus. One way to fix that is to declare a shared "deep work hour"—a block each day where no one expects quick replies. Everyone can turn off their notifications and get a break from context switching.
"Focus is easier when it's collective," shared Max Baecker, President of American Hartford Gold, whose American Hartford Gold reviews highlight the potential of gold IRAs. "When you know your team won't interrupt you, your brain stops bracing for it."
Pick a recurring time that works for most people. Add it to your calendar, set a team status update, and use a shared tag like #deepwork so everyone stays in sync.
4. Build a Shared Wins Channel
Progress often gets buried under deadlines, edits, and message threads. A shared "wins" space can bring momentum front and center, whether it's landing a client, squashing a bug, or surviving a brutal presentation. Public recognition can create a ripple effect of motivation while keeping your team looped in to what's working.
"People stay more engaged when they feel like their work matters," advised Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, a company known for its safer kids cell phone, the Bark Phone. "Highlighting progress reminds everyone that they're not just moving but moving forward."
Make a dedicated channel for wings and encourage everyone to post theirs at least once a week. Tag teammates, use emojis, and keep it casual. In time, the good vibes will stack up!
5. Switch Up Where (and How) You Brainstorm
When brainstorming starts to feel like a routine instead of a spark, it's probably time to shake things up. Sitting in the same space, using the same format, and hearing the same voices first can slow down good ideas before they even land.
"Novelty can boost creativity," added Emily Greenfield, Director of Ecommerce at Mac Duggal, a company that offers prom dresses. "When you change the format or setting of your brainstorming session, people show up differently. They contribute more freely, and the energy shifts."
Try a walking brainstorm instead of crowding around a whiteboard. Change the setting, the pace, or even the time of day. You could kick things off with a single visual prompt, set a timer to keep ideas flowing, or invite people to add thoughts anonymously to a shared document. The goal is to create space for fresh input, especially from voices that might not jump in right away.
6. Ask "What's One Thing You Need Today?"
A quick check-in can unlock exactly what a teammate's been silently struggling with—all without them having to make a big deal out of it. The question, "What's one thing you need today?" invites clarity, creates space for small asks, and shifts focus outward in a way that can build trust and momentum.
"People are more likely to engage and collaborate when they feel seen by their team," highlighted Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of Stadium, a company that provides peer to peer recognition software. "Asking the right questions can signal your availability and support, which in turn can sustain your team's performance."
Ask this question during your morning hello, over lunch, or while wrapping up a meeting. Most of the time, the requests will be small, but offering your help makes it easier for others to speak up, especially when they wouldn't have otherwise.
7. Default to Transparency
Collaboration works better when everyone can see the big picture. That said, it often requires you to ditch the private folders, solo docs, and mystery timelines. Make status updates, decisions, and feedback visible by default.
"People assume silence means nothing's happening," underscored Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble, a company that specializes in washable rugs. "But when you open the curtain, even a messy work-in-progress builds trust."
Set your documents to "viewable by anyone," use public threads for real-time updates, and link back to project trackers often. Bonus: You'll stop getting the same three questions in your DMs every week.
8. Try a No-Agenda Catch-Up Once a Week
Not every meeting needs bullet points and action items. A no-agenda catch-up is a 15-minute chat with a teammate you don't usually work with—no prep, no pitch, just a conversation. It builds connections across silos and makes future collaboration smoother.
"Some of the most impactful cross-team insights come from unscripted conversations," identified Brianna Bitton, Co-Founder of O Positiv, a company known for its MENO menopause supplements. "Without a rigid structure, there's room for unexpected overlaps, problem-solving, and shared discoveries."
Rotate people weekly and use a scheduler to match teammates randomly. Walk while you talk, or grab a coffee together if you're in the same space. No agenda doesn't mean no value—it just means leaving space for unexpected sparks.
9. Make Something Together That Isn't Work
Finally, create something together that lives outside your task list! A low-stakes shared project can give your team a sense of identity that isn't tied to deadlines or deliverables. It's a way to collaborate just for fun, and that kind of creative space builds trust.
"Groups that engage in non-work creative rituals often report higher levels of psychological safety and team satisfaction," offered Erin Banta, Co-Founder and CEO of Pepper Home, a company that offers custom curtains. "These shared experiences can strengthen bonds in ways that traditional meetings or happy hours don't."
Start simple. Make a collaborative playlist where everyone adds one track each week. Hang up a whiteboard near your desks with a rotating prompt, or start a digital mood board or photo album of your workspace memories. It should be something that reflects the team and is built by the team.
How Can Collaboration Pay Off in the Long Run?
Now that you know how to collaborate better, what can collaboration really do for your business? In short: everything. When collaboration feels safe and supported, teams take more creative risks, solve problems faster, and spend less time second-guessing.
"Collaboration has the ability to empower your teams, unleash innovation, and transform challenges into opportunities," stated Kathryn Landis, Founder and CEO of Kathryn Landis Consulting.
Strong collaboration isn't something extra but one of the most valuable things a business can build. It fuels agility, sharpens decision-making, and creates a team culture that can truly scale. Whether you're a founder, a team lead, or just the one people turn to when things get stuck, putting real energy into how you work together can pay off.
Ready to Work Together?
International Coworking Day is a good excuse to step back and think about how you show up for others at work. Collaboration doesn't happen automatically—it takes intention, flexibility, and a little practice. But then teams find their rhythm, the work flows better, people stay engaged, and ideas move faster.
"Co-working requires an openness to being changed by the people around you," concluded Mathe Mosny, CEO of Kismet Pets, a company that provides high protein dog food.
So, try one of these nine tips! See how it goes, then build from there. Small shifts in how you work together can lead to big results down the road.
