Virtual teams have become the new norm. People are spread out all over the globe, yet must be able to work together and deliver on business goals. However, when it comes to collaborating, you’ll find there is a lot of talk about getting work done, but little being accomplished. This is because effective collaborative work management shouldn’t be comm-centric, but rather, work-centric. Your teams may be able to talk-the-talk, but can they walk-the-walk?
In a recent Observer article, Highly Productive Teams Communicate More but Actually Talk Less, Patrick Tickle, Chief Product Officer at Planview, addresses this very issue. He states, “Today’s teams need a space…somewhere they can call their own where they can come together, see their work, see the team’s progress, and share the content they need to get work done.” This space—a space centered around productivity rather than talking—is the difference between collaborative work and just collaboration.
So, how can team managers accomplish this kind of work collaboration? Patrick outlines four steps, summarized below, to get teams communicating on a whole new level:
- Give teams a space of their own—this is more than a “virtual office.” Provide a place where all work can be stored and easily accessed.
- Equip them with better tools, not more—spreadsheets and e-mail quickly become messy and complicated. You want all team members using a single, common tool.
- Get out of the way—give your team space to work. Trust that they will deliver when equipped with proper work collaboration tools.
- Let them see for themselves—visibility is crucial. Teams must be able to identify roadblocks, as well as properly plan and set goals and deadlines.
For more information, read the full Observer article, Highly Productive Teams Communicate More but Actually Talk Less, and learn how to give your team the tools they need to best organize their work and increase productivity. After checking out the article, leave a comment below on how you are using collaborative work management in your organization.
