Watch: How to be a better collaborator in a distributed-workforce world
Collaboration has been a corporate buzzword for at least a decade, but even those who have mastered it have had to rethink their approaches at companies that are now largely remote or hybrid. Here’s a recap of the top tips provided by our panelists, along with a short list of tools they recommended for high-caliber collaboration
Collaboration Tip #1: Hold meetings-but not too many, and always for the right reasons
Avoid making meetings the default option for your communication needs. Use them sparingly, and only when the desired outcome justifies their use.
- If something’s not clicking, people just aren’t jiving with whatever you’re trying to decide, it’s a great time to hop onto a meeting.
Collaboration tip #4: Hire for and hone people’s writing skills
Good documentation is the bedrock of any modern workplace, particularly when the staff is far-flung.
- During the hiring process, do a test project that usually involves asking for some sort of writing sample.
Collaboration tip #5: Stick to “global English”
If your job requires cross-cultural collaboration, stop using idioms and replace them with single words
- Example: “Bring our A-game,” “Come up for air,” “Cut and dry,” “Level the playing field”
Collaboration tip #2: If you do have to hold a meeting, start with an icebreaker
Icebreakers help to get the participants feeling grounded and comfortable
Use good tools and apply them to the right tasks
Loom: Asynchronous video is handy for those times when written documentation won’t do
- Notion: Organizes ideas, projects, and data easily
- Spot Meetings: Transcribes conversations, take notes, and highlights follow-ups from phone meetings conducted away from your desk
Collaboration tip #3: Know your purpose, and the value your fellow collaborators are looking for
People are always looking for value in any sort of dialogue
- Identify their wants and needs, and appeal to them as best you can while remembering your own purpose
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