New research from Zoom, titled the Global Collaboration in the Workplace report, reveals how poor collaboration is becoming an expensive challenge for businesses.
Issues such as difficulties in scheduling meetings and delayed responses are creating significant inefficiencies, with the impact being more pronounced than many might expect.
According to the report, despite a growing push from technology companies for a full-time return to office environments, both leaders and employees are showing a clear preference for instant messaging over in-person meetings. This trend is particularly notable as organisations attempt to balance remote and hybrid working models with traditional office setups.
The report highlights the importance of efficient collaboration, with over one-third of business leaders reporting that they lose more than an hour each day resolving issues caused by poor teamwork. Zoom’s analysis estimates that this productivity loss could amount to over £12,000 per manager per year, underscoring the significant financial implications for businesses that fail to address these challenges.
Leaders Struggling with Collaboration
One of the key findings from Zoom’s research is that leaders are feeling the strain of poor collaboration more acutely than employees. Around 47% of team leaders said they spend too much time in meetings, compared to 33% of their team members. Additionally, leaders report finding it harder to refocus after switching between tasks, indicating that excessive meetings may be hampering their overall productivity.
The research also highlights the role of generational differences in collaboration preferences. While Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z leaders are leaning towards digital collaboration tools such as instant messaging and project management software, Baby Boomers continue to favour in-person meetings. This divergence may add an additional layer of complexity for teams working across multiple generations.
Younger Leaders Hit Hard by Collaboration Inefficiencies
Younger leaders, particularly from Generation Z, appear to be the most affected by poor collaboration practices. According to the report, 48% of Gen Z leaders spend over an hour each day following up on project statuses—significantly more than their Baby Boomer counterparts. This points to a potential burden on younger managers to keep projects on track, especially in fast-paced work environments that rely heavily on digital tools for communication.
The report also notes that the use of too many apps may be contributing to collaboration inefficiencies. Teams that rely on more than 10 apps are twice as likely to spend over an hour resolving collaboration-related issues compared to those using fewer than five. This highlights the need for streamlined digital solutions to reduce time lost to app overload.
AI as a Key to Improved Collaboration
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in boosting workplace efficiency was another critical finding from Zoom’s report. Nearly half (46%) of AI users reported a preference for asynchronous collaboration methods, such as project management software, shared documents, and video clips. In contrast, only 20% of non-AI users preferred these methods, suggesting that AI tools may help teams work more efficiently by reducing the need for real-time interaction.
As businesses continue to navigate the challenges of modern workplace collaboration, the findings from Zoom’s report offer a stark reminder of the cost of poor communication. For organisations looking to stay competitive, addressing these inefficiencies will be key to unlocking productivity and managing costs effectively.
