But what about collaborating remotely?<\/h3>\n
It can be challenging to master remote collaboration because it\u2019s more complex than simply deciding whether or not to wear pants for that video call. (Definitely wear pants. The one time you don\u2019t, you will inevitably have to get up.)<\/p>\n
How do you replicate the in-office banter over the computer? How do you communicate effectively without blowing up someone\u2019s email?<\/p>\n
Questions like these often come up when considering how to collaborate with remote coworkers. These tips will help quell communication concerns and make remote collaboration more effective.<\/strong><\/p>\n While working collaboratively means you\u2019re working with others on a project, there are often times in which you work independently and then meet back together to share ideas. In an office, you can pop your head over a cubicle wall to run a quick idea by your coworker or you might mention something when you\u2019re walking down the hall.<\/p>\n Obviously, you don\u2019t have that same experience when you work from home. However, staying available on chat, email, and phone during work hours provides the same opportunity for experiences like those to happen.<\/p>\n Image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n And don\u2019t simply flip the switch to \u201cavailable\u201d while begrudgingly responding to a chat or being irritated you have to answer the phone. Genuinely welcome calls, emails, or chats from coworkers \u2014 it will help keep the lines of communication open and conversations will be more natural.<\/p>\n If you turn off communication, you completely turn off the opportunity to work collaboratively, let alone effectively.<\/p>\n With the ability to chat, post messages on message boards, and pick up that old-fashioned phone, save emails for important communication that\u2019s more lengthy. Similarly, stick to email when you need to address multiple topics of conversation in a single message. Don\u2019t hit the dreaded Reply All when it\u2019s unnecessary, and keep your emails to the point.<\/p>\n Avoid bombarding your coworker with emails for shorter conversations and send them quick chats instead. You could always pick up the phone, but be courteous and send them a quick chat to see if they have time to talk. It will avoid interrupting them if they\u2019re in the middle of something that demands their attention. Be courteous and purposefully communicative.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that, if you have a dedicated office space, it\u2019s a lot easier to communicate for the simple fact that people are going to be able to hear<\/i> you better.<\/p>\n Image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re trying to have a video chat from Starbucks, chances are, the person on the other end isn\u2019t going to be able to hear you over the coffee shop atmosphere \u2014 and you\u2019ll really be in trouble if the cafe has live music. When jumping on a video call (or even just a conference call), try using headphones and a microphone to keep background noise at bay.<\/p>\n Or, if you live in a city like San Francisco or New York,\u00a0you might want to check out Breather<\/a>, which allows you to rent a quiet\u00a0workspace for an hour or two.<\/p>\n As I mentioned, Google Hangouts is an amazing tool that allows you to have a video chat with one person or multiple people. Whether you choose to use Google Hangouts or another video chat program, maintaining regular contact with the coworkers with whom you’re collaborating is going to make the remote aspect of your collaboration seem not quite as remote.<\/p>\n Stay current with project progress and keep faces fresh. When you can see your coworkers faces, read their mannerisms, and actually talk, you might not be as guarded when it comes to communicating, especially if it\u2019s happening frequently.<\/p>\n Video chats can also be very useful in sharing whiteboards. With a well-positioned computer, you can see the scribbles that matter through video.<\/p>\n Image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Even as a writer, I\u2019ve been on video calls with clients who have shared whiteboards with me. Through the video, I could see everything in action just as if I was there, and I was subsequently emailed pictures of the board, which were useful when reflecting back on the conversation.<\/p>\n We recently wrote about using video to collaborate<\/a> when we interviewed Chris Weiher<\/a> about his live stream tutorial website Watch Me Work. Video is incredibly helpful, and it\u2019s definitely something we encourage.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that maintaining a regular communication schedule lets you and your team stay current with the progress of a project, have the ability to ask questions and gain clarity, and communicate more easily.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t even think about working remotely \u2014 let alone trying to collaborate \u2014 if your technology isn\u2019t up to par. Your internet must be fast enough to handle video chats, large document sharing, and multiple tabs.<\/p>\n Image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n And even more importantly, your computer needs to be up to date and running the same programs as your coworkers. Compatibility issues could cause you to waste hours of time, whether it\u2019s just trying to open the document or reformatting issues that popped up between versions or file types.<\/p>\n Although those working for larger companies likely have the same company computer, laptop, or tablet, if you\u2019re an entrepreneur or a startup where each employee is using his or her\u00a0own, it\u2019s imperative that you\u2019re all on the same platform and using the same programs (as well as the same versions of programs) to keep collaboration effective and running smoothly.<\/p>\n There are a number of amazing project management\/collaboration tools, such as Trello<\/a>, Basecamp<\/a>, or Creately<\/a>.<\/p>\n At ThinkApps, we love using Slack<\/a>\u00a0because everything is accessible in one space, which makes it incredibly user-friendly. (And the tech world seems to agree\u00a0\u2014 \u00a0between eight and ten companies have propositioned CEO Stewart Butterfield with acquisition<\/a>.)<\/p>\n There are a ton of other project management and collaboration tools out there, so don\u2019t be shy when investigating what would work best for your team.<\/p>\n Collaboration tools not only help you keep track of what you\u2019re doing but help your team as a whole to stay organized. When you\u2019re faced with high-pressure deadlines and complex projects, staying organized and having the ability to monitor the status of a project can hugely affect the outcome of the project in a positive way.<\/p>\n This is especially true for developers,\u00a0designers, writers and content managers, and other collaborative groups who work remotely and take on large, complex projects with multiple stages and components.<\/p>\n You might be an hour into work at 9am, but your coworker three time zones over might still be hitting the snooze button.<\/p>\n Especially when you\u2019re collaborating, be mindful of what time zone your coworkers are in and schedule meetings or calls when the work time overlaps. Integrating effectively across time zones, cultures, and work styles might take a while to get used to, but it\u2019s not impossible.<\/p>\n Image credit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Pay attention when scheduling a time to talk and make sure you\u2019re aware of each other\u2019s time zones \u2014 in fact, when scheduling calls with coworkers who live in different areas of the world or even just the US, always include the time zone in the message when scheduling so that everyone is clear.<\/p>\n Always ask before scheduling because it shows you respect your coworker\u2019s time and you\u2019ll be able to find\u00a0a time to talk in which you both can dedicate your attention to the task at hand.<\/p>\n Obviously, if everyone is on board with being notified in real time for urgent matters, do pick up the phone, but this is one time it\u2019s excusable not to be met with an awake and chipper hello. Then again, those urgent calls aren\u2019t usually happy ones to begin with.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget that not only are you human, but the coworker you\u2019re connecting with is human, too.<\/p>\n Establish a positive working relationship and value your coworker\u2019s contributions. Make sure to take a few minutes to have some \u201cwater-cooler\u201d talk \u2014 it will help build a rapport and relationship with your coworkers.<\/p>\n Consider how<\/i> you communicate, especially when working remotely. Your tone, intent, and sarcasm cannot always be easily deciphered through text. \u00a0In fact, it\u2019s usually best to leave sarcasm out of the workplace, but if you let it slip, at least let it be on a video chat where your tone and expression can help set up the context.<\/p>\n Keep criticism constructive \u2014 when providing feedback to others in your group, be sure to point out the things he or she did well in addition to the areas that need work so you don\u2019t sound like a Negative Nancy. Your comments\u00a0will be taken more seriously, and the group will benefit from honest feedback.<\/p>\n When working remotely, it\u2019s critical that you remember your basic communication skills. We\u2019ve stressed throughout this post that communication is the key to effective collaboration \u2014 and that\u2019s true whether you\u2019re working remotely or in an office.<\/p>\n What else helps you collaborate effectively while working remotely? Let us know via Twitter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n1. Be Available<\/h2>\n
![\"Stay](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/04000649\/Stay-Available.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Don\u2019t Rely on Email<\/h2>\n
Here are some great communication apps you and your team might find useful:<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"Headphones\"](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/04000649\/Headphones.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Hang Out and Don\u2019t Be Strangers<\/h2>\n
![\"Whiteboard\"](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/04000649\/Whiteboard.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Have Compatible Technology<\/h2>\n
![\"Devices\"](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/04000649\/Screen-Shot-2015-06-03-at-2.12.10-PM.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Use Collaboration Tools<\/h2>\n
![\"Slack\"](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/29235237\/Screen-Shot-2015-04-29-at-12.23.55-PM.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Don\u2019t Forget About Time Zones<\/h2>\n
![\"Time](\"http:\/\/d1vqbpto5tbbz0.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/04000649\/time-train-station-clock-deadline-medium.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Get Back to the Basics<\/h2>\n
Remember: Communication Is the Key<\/em><\/h2>\n