Workplace collaboration is one of the most critical and often overlooked drivers of business success. When workplace collaboration is intentionally designed into operations, teams perform better at every level.
Sometimes a company intentionally designs its business model. Other times, industry shifts or external forces shape how the business must operate. One of the clearest examples of this is the ongoing conversation around remote versus in-office work.
Some businesses were early adopters of remote work because their industry supported it or leadership saw it as a strategic advantage for growth and expansion. Others shifted to remote work out of necessity during the pandemic and have since moved, or attempted to move, back into the office full time or into a hybrid model.
Regardless of which model a company uses, one truth remains constant. Strong workplace collaboration and working relationships are essential, and they must be a priority.
Workplace collaboration faces challenges in every workplace models
Working remotely or in a hybrid model offers meaningful benefits, but it also introduces new and often underestimated challenges. The impact of those challenges depends heavily on leadership, operational structure, communication systems, and the level of intentionality a business applies to its internal culture.
We see this play out constantly. Many organizations believe they have a “people problem” when in reality they have an infrastructure problem. When roles, expectations, communication rhythms, and accountability systems are unclear, collaboration suffers, regardless of whether a team is sitting in the same office or spread across multiple time zones.
This is why workplace collaboration cannot be treated as a soft skill or an HR initiative. It is an operational priority.
Rachel Boehm’s article, “4 Steps to Building Strong Relationships with Your Remote Team,” published by NBC-HWC, addresses this challenge directly. Her guidance reinforces what we see in the companies we interact with: strong workplace collaboration does not happen by accident. It is built through deliberate systems, consistent communication, and leadership commitment. Her four tips for building stronger connections, along with the included three-step exercise, offer practical tools that align closely with the frameworks we implement with our clients.
One of the most powerful and frequently overlooked principles that Rachel highlights is investing in yourself. For small business owners and leaders, this is not about self-care alone. It is about strengthening leadership capacity, sharpening decision-making, and developing emotional intelligence so workplace collaboration can thrive at every level of the organization.
When leaders invest in themselves, they model the behaviors that create healthier communication, stronger accountability, and deeper trust. This directly impacts workplace collaboration, because teams take their cues from leadership. Clear thinking, calm responses under pressure, and consistent expectations create an environment where collaboration is not just encouraged, but operationalized.
This is where the Tripod Coaching & Consulting LLC® team’s work begins. We help leaders identify the operational gaps that quietly undermine workplace collaboration, and then build the structures that allow teams to communicate clearly, trust consistently, and perform at a higher level. Through intentional systems, defined roles, and repeatable processes, collaboration becomes part of how the business functions, not something leaders hope will happen on its own.
Workplace collaboration can be applied to business relationships
A successful business is built on relationships, and not just the ones inside the company. The same collaboration principles that strengthen internal teams also drive stronger relationships with clients, customers, and partners.
One of Rachel Boehm’s core recommendations is to be intentional and proactive. Tripod Coaching & Consulting LLC® translates that directly into business operations. Being intentional means designing communication touchpoints into your business model. Being proactive means removing ambiguity before it becomes conflict or lost revenue.
This is why we help our clients build repeatable systems for client engagement, internal communication, feedback loops, and accountability. Simple practices such as structured check-ins, documented expectations, and clearly defined ownership of tasks dramatically improve collaboration both inside the organization and across external relationships.
When collaboration becomes embedded in how the business operates, everything changes. Teams execute more efficiently. Clients feel more confident and supported. Leaders gain clarity. And the business becomes more resilient, scalable, and prepared for the inevitable changes ahead.
That is the power of treating workplace collaboration as a core operational strategy rather than an afterthought.
Why Planning for the “What If”® makes workplace collaboration stronger
We approach workplace collaboration through the lens of Planning for the “What If”®. Strengthening workplace collaboration is one of the most effective ways leaders can improve execution, alignment, and long-term performance. Because the strongest teams are not just productive when things are going well. They are resilient when things change, break, or become uncertain.
Every business will face disruptions. Growth, turnover, economic shifts, leadership changes, client loss, technology failures, and unexpected crises all test the strength of collaboration inside an organization. When collaboration has been intentionally built into the company’s operational framework, teams adapt faster, communicate more clearly, and recover more effectively.
Planning for the “What If”® means proactively designing systems that support collaboration before pressure hits. It means defining roles and decision authority in advance. It means establishing communication rhythms that do not collapse during stressful moments. It means ensuring that trust is not situational, but structural.
When businesses commit to this level of planning, collaboration becomes more than a cultural goal. It becomes a competitive advantage.
Through our consulting and coaching work, we help leaders move beyond surface-level collaboration initiatives and into fully integrated operational strategies that strengthen performance today while protecting the business for tomorrow.
Connect with Rachel and start the conversation
If you are not already connected with Rachel Boehm or following her on LinkedIn, we highly recommend doing so. She is a wealth of knowledge and one of our partner companies, bringing deep insight into workplace well-being strategies that complement the collaboration frameworks we implement with our clients.
Ready to Level Up Your Business?
If you would like support taking next steps or exploring how these concepts apply to your organization, we would be happy to help. For our existing, new, and prospective clients, we can also make a direct introduction to Rachel and facilitate a conversation that aligns her expertise with your business goals. Simply reach out through our contact page and we will set up a call.
At Tripod Coaching & Consulting LLC®, our core expertise is business operations coaching and consulting. We specialize in strengthening the interface between the revenue-generating and non-revenue-generating sides of your business, building policies and procedures across all departments, and guiding leaders through Planning for the “What If”®. Our work is grounded in one belief we have repeatedly proven:
A strong foundation creates a strong, scalable company.
If you have questions about this post, want help applying these ideas, or are ready to strengthen workplace collaboration as part of your long-term growth strategy, then let’s talk. Leave a comment below or reach out through our contact page to start the conversation.
The tripod is the company’s attorney, accountant, and banker. These three individuals work with the business owner(s) to lay an initial structural foundation. There is a 4th very important component that is the top piece connecting the 3 legs of the tripod — the insurance broker. Many companies wait to connect with an insurance broker; however, this creates potential risk exposure. It’s essential to get the correct insurance policies in place before the company begins providing products and services to their customers.
The company then builds their revenue and growth on this foundational tripod.
The challenge of business operations
The challenge is most business owners and executives find business operations tedious, and it takes a backseat to activities that directly generate revenue. They often don’t have a solid understanding of business operations because it includes a lot of specific and nuanced areas that they may not have been exposed to before starting their business. Then after the business opens, many business owners focus on what they know — the services and products they sell. And most are really good at selling because they know their industry and ideal customer.
The issue is that without a strong foundation, the business may not survive over the long haul or when faced with challenges that have legal and monetary ramifications. Why? Because a company cannot sustain itself only through revenue.
So, why don’t entrepreneurs invest time and money in their business operations? Partly because they may not realize how important it is for long-term business success.
Diana also believes this is due to industry and entrepreneurial programs not offering outside services and training in business operations topics, particularly to small businesses.
Do a search for consulting services and you’ll find a lot of listings for sales, marketing, opportunity identification, recruiting, etc. But you won’t find many for business operations coaching and consulting. The reasons are two-fold. First, the other industries are associated with increased revenue and are a lot more fun to teach and provide. Second, because many of those consultants don’t realize the importance of business operations so they don’t incorporate it into their own business model.
Our mission
Our mission is to help organizations with their planning for the “what if”™.
What if we grow?
What if we want/need to hire people?
What if we need to expand to other states?
What if we want to sell the business?
What if we are sued?
What if we…
We help you plan for the “what ifs” you may know about and identify ones that you thought wouldn’t affect your business.
