Discussion and Collaboration
Need to get everyone together to brainstorm your latest side project? Looking for the perfect place to hash out your club's upcoming initiatives with the team? No matter what you might be working on, collaborating smoothly can be tough when the team isn't face to face; translating the spontaneity and synergy onto a virtual medium can often result in issues when technology won't cooperate with you.
For the most seamless collaborative experience, consider using platforms that combine spontaneous group conversations, file sharing, and easily customizable workspaces. Here are some of our picks for collaboration platforms:
Tools
Best Practices
Collaborating smoothly and hosting lively, interactive discussions online are a lot harder than you might think. It's often said that 90% of communication is non-verbal; but what happens when that communication takes place over platforms that rely on explicit communication? While it can seem as though all you need to do is get the right people into the room, when the room is virtual, keep in mind that everyone is entering the room with varying levels of experience. To keep things running smoothly, consider implementing the following tips:
- Provide everyone with the information on what features that are available to you and how to access them
- Use video whenever possible to keep the momentum going, however, also give participants alternative ways of interacting such as dial-in or chat
- Ensure each participant understands the goal of the meeting as well as their role (e.g. presenter, minute taker, chat moderator, etc)
- Establish consensus on privacy/security/archiving default settings - how will you be recording and/or storing meetings and in-the-moment information? Should participants be expected to use their webcam?
- Consider using platforms that easily integrate other collaborative apps such as One Drive, Google Drive, Gmail, or GitHub
Resources
Tips for increasing participant engagement in remote meetings
How to Work Remotely: 4 Tips to Help Your Team Succeed