A Quick Guide to Maximizing Digital Collaboration
Are your digital collaboration tools living up to their full potential? Many organizations fall short, using these tools superficially. In this article, we explore how to unlock their capabilities and drive better outcomes. These are key points to help any organization quickly help their teams maximize collaboration to increase productivity.
Beyond Superficial Use
Training Awareness: Teams often lack awareness of a tool’s full capabilities due to minimal training.
Hidden Features: Digital collaboration tools like Slack, Teams, Smartsheet, and Monday offer more than meets the eye.
Example: Smartsheet isn’t just for project planning; it excels in reporting, resource management, and workflow automation.
Workflow Integration
Common Pitfall: Organizations introduce digital collaboration tools without understanding how they fit into existing workflows.
Outcome: Poor integration leads to inefficiencies and wasted resources.
Optimization: Workflow alignment should be a priority during technology implementation.
Practical Considerations
Team Dynamics: Understand how teams work (in-office, remote, hybrid).
Collaboration Preferences: Involve teams in defining the best collaboration methods.
Comfort with Technology: Assess team comfort levels and address training needs.
Tool Selection: Identify the best tool for each activity (collaboration, execution, training, communication).
Communication Norms: Set expectations for messaging, response times, and types of communication-based on various needs.
Guidelines and Best Practices: Document easy-to-use guides based on best practices for each platform.
Feedback Loop: Regularly survey teams to gauge technology usage and how to continuously improve.
By maximizing collaboration tools, organizations can enhance execution, streamline workflows, and achieve better outcomes. Remember: It’s not just about having the tools; it’s about using them effectively.
