Key aspects of virtual collaboration
External Resources
Good Collaboration
Collaboration is recognized by companies as increasingly necessary: with groups you have faster, shared processes and new insights. In fact, collaborative groups help companies to innovate, to achieve their objectives, obtaining the best results also in terms of innovation.
The strength of collaboration is summarized in the sentence: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”. The video illustrates the fundamental values of good collaboration.
Professional Development: Collaboration in the Workplace
A Google research (Aristotle) discovered that the perfect team does not depend on individual participants, but is the one that has the highest ability to collaborate, that is, in which people communicate with each other and listen to each other, show mutual empathy and share their knowledge to achieve common goals.
The video illustrates the advantages, strategies and best practices of collaboration.
A new working model has emerged in recent years and is increasingly establishing itself: remote or hybrid working (when the company plans to return to the office). Virtual collaboration is a form of working between team members in a digital environment. If the success of a team depends on the type of collaborations and interactions created within it, how can this be achieved in remote working?
Challenges of Working Remotely
The remote working model involves the reorganization of the worker’s relationship with the company, of the managerial role, of the company itself. Therefore there are numerous challenges, as you can see in the video, such as: managing the separation between work and home life, managing the sense of isolation that could arise from the lack of daily face-to-face interactions, potential misunderstandings and communication problems and contrasting potential derivative conflicts.
When you’re not face-to-face with colleagues, it’s difficult to set and manage expectations, address inevitable technical issues, and keep your team (and yourself) motivated and engaged.
We see that the advantages of hybrid working are also numerous. Research shows that it offers teams flexibility and options. However, a successful model of hybrid work requires, both on the part of the worker and the company, an intentional shift in mindset and strategy.
Virtual Collaboration By Harvard Business Review: 20 Minute Manager series: Animated Summary
Digital communication, collaboration and participation examine how you interact with others. The focus of the video is on how you work with people, participate and connect through digital means because remote interconnection brings changes in the way you collaborate. The video asks us not to forget that we are interacting with a real human being on the other side of the video and that our interactions with him are subject to the same dynamics as any other professional encounter. Building relationships and trust, communicating effectively and being productive is necessary even remotely.
Here are five actions that can help you solve the technological, emotional, and social puzzles of virtual collaboration: 1 Clarify expectations. 2 Manage your technology. 3 Build productive relationships 4 Communicate effectively 5 Manage common problems.
How is Collaboration Changing in a Hybrid Work Environment?
Hybrid work is a cross between remote work and office work. In this virtual environment, collaboration undergoes a transformation, because new ways of communicating with team members are required. For this reason, Human Resources (HR) professionals, people analytics teams, and business leaders must be diligent and understand the change to ensure their company continues to see the benefits of a workforce that collaborates well whether working from home or on the go. ‘office.
Companies that have good collaboration among their teams see higher success rates with projects, lower levels of fatigue among members, and higher engagement. Forbes reported that collaborative team members stayed on task 64% longer than their lone colleagues. In the podcast link to experts who were asked about their vision of collaboration in a hybrid working environment.
The Future of the Office Has Arrived: It's Hybrid
In summary, collaboration brings together people with different skills to find solutions, it is based on problem solving, involves constantly defining and perfecting objectives, and is based on finding a win-win situation for everyone. In general it is advantageous for the company and for the worker because it brings greater creativity and quality of solutions.
Through collaborative group work you have these advantages:
- Work times are accelerated
- You arrive at the solution more quickly
- Knowledge, skills and abilities of each member are shared
- Everyone’s strengths combine
- Problem solving is learned
- Risk taking is encouraged
These advantages should be transferable to remote collaboration. In the link some strategies to adopt.
Digital Collaboration- Delivering innovation, productivity adn hapiness
In the document, Deloitte research (2013) finds that when employees collaborate: they work 15% faster, 73% do a better job, 60% are more innovative and 56% feel more satisfied.
How To Keep Team Collaboration Alive And Thriving In A Hybrid Work World
In 2022 (Source Gallup) 71% of hybrid workers said they appreciate a better work-life balance. But among the top five hybrid-related problems identified by Gallup poll participants, four involved interpersonal or social issues. Nearly a third cited a decrease in collaboration with colleagues and a feeling of lack of connection with their company’s culture.
Information seeking, participation, connection and collaboration skills are the most important qualities for staying connected to one’s work and having a decisive role in work groups. 90% of companies are moving towards hybrid and therefore cannot afford to have teams that do not work with harmony, enthusiasm and effectiveness. Read what strategies help you overcome these challenges.
Infographics
Advantages and challenges of hybrid working
Test Yourself
Hybrid work
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