How to work together better

Learn how collaboration is key.

There are digital tools to access talent anywhere in the world and to share information easily. But beyond this, these platforms also foster an ethos of collaboration that makes working together better.

The Rolling Stones.

A rock band that has played together for more than six decades.

Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood commit to two months of rehearsals before every tour. Their dedication to refining their collective sound together allows them to perform with almost telepathic communication – being guided by a flick of Watt’s left hand.

The success of this British outfit can be pinned on each member’s distinct role. A role, when combined, creates an award-winning sound born from collaboration.

Technology today, when used well, can enable a spirit of collaboration at work. Companies that prioritise teamwork know that digital tools allow us to foster a collaborative spirit like never before.

So: how do you create a team like The Rolling Stones? By taking working together well, seriously.

In their own words: Why don't we sing this song all together?

A culture of collaboration

Collaboration is the driving force of a company, which unites colleagues to achieve a common goal.

Actively encouraging your workforce to use their unique skill sets to team up together, not only optimises work efficiently, but it could also see a 35% positive increase in employees' mood.

Case in point: leading airline, Air France, is just one of the organisations switching to online collaborative tools to communicate. Instead of relying on radio, the air travel company has embraced Office 365 and Teams to contact the ground crew and managers. Sharing in real time, Air France employees keep each other updated throughout the day on OneNote stored in Teams, creating a smooth loading process for passengers and crew.

Get schooled on the latest workplace collaboration tools

“Shoot me an email” is a phrase that has echoed office walls for decades.

No longer.

Digital tools have made it easier for workforces to enjoy a collaborative culture. But in a hybrid environment, or when working remotely, some tools are losing relevance. Face-to-face meetings, for example, have largely been replaced by social screens, dropping by 35% in 2021.

CIPD shows only 14% of the emails we receive are essential for getting work done. Said to be “an instant annoyance and distraction” by Lee Mallon, founder of IT consulting firm, Rarely Impossible, emails have been banned at his company. Instead, his team communicates through Skype, Dropbox and Slack, which Mallon says has saved on average 20% of employees’ time.

Two of the biggest work collaboration tools, Slack and Teams, have different advantages and functions. Slack organises conversations into channels making message-based collaborations easier to navigate, whereas Microsoft Teams uses a collection of tools and apps to make teamwork more productive, allowing employees to access and share cloud-based files.

Whichever you choose though, you can be sure your team will collaborate better.

Put simply, applications such as Microsoft Teams and Slack have made communicating at work easier. (96% of Slack users say the platform helps them to forge better connections.) These apps act as hubs for communication and collaboration. Users can seamlessly switch to edit live documents together without cross-wiring through emails.

As work-chat apps allow employees to work seamlessly across devices, they formed the backbone of companies’ communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to these tools, workforces could stay connected without missing a beat.

Creative features, such as Slack Huddles, recreate an office environment with a drop-in, audio-only gathering place where you can casually chat about work, for example. These handy add-ons explain why more than 85% of business leaders think digital tools will expand remote work.

Scaling up your small business, made simple

Competing with bigger companies has always been something smaller businesses have had to deal with. As ever, to stay in the game, smaller outfits need a competitive edge.

Digital tools of all kinds have made it easier than ever to scale a business. With business communication platforms being more accessible, smaller companies are now open to similar opportunities presented to corporate giants. Collaborative tools, such as Slack and Teams, can empower you with access to people from around the world.

And you don't have to use expensive devices to use collaborative tools. These apps are readily available on devices big and small – and even on the simplest of smartphones. Investing in them is worth it.

Just open a chat window and – boom. You just went global.

Speaking of booms, and of digital tools scaling small businesses, Amirah Kaseem, created a now famous bakery – and explosion cakes – without enough money for a storefront or even a website.All she had was Instagram, and now she bakes cakes for the Kardashians.

What can digital tools do for you?

There’s only one way to find out.

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