AT A GLANCE
How to Replicate Online the Benefits of Working On-Site
On-Site Benefit: Efficiency and Accessibility
A successful team benefits from the efficiency of working in the same location, where the answer to a question or a copy of a report is just a few steps away.
Facilitating Efficiency and Accessibility Online
GENERAL APPROACH
- Communicate online, regularly. (In chapter 8 AgileBill Krebs equates effective “high-bandwidth communication” with colocated communication.)
SPECIFIC SOLUTION OR DESCRIPTION
- Make communicating easy, especially via great equipment and great internet capability.
- Establish protocols regarding tools and etiquette (especially on how quickly to respond).
TYPE OF TOOL
- Computer, internet, webcam, headset
- Email, text, IM, group chat (such as with Slack)
- Video conferencing (perhaps using BlueJeans, Skype, or Zoom)
- Virtual office (Sococo or Walkabout Workplace)
On-Site Benefit: Productivity and Collaboration
A successful team benefits from the productivity of working in the same location, where they can update, report, plan, and brainstorm as a group.
Facilitating Productivity and Collaboration Online
GENERAL APPROACH
- Meet just as often—online.
- Record meetings for those who can’t attend.
- Use online communal task board/task-management software.
SPECIFIC SOLUTION OR DESCRIPTION
- Work out loud: make your work visible to your colleagues.
- Hold regular (perhaps daily) “stand-ups”: brief status updates.
- Hold weekly or bimonthly “Retrospectives”: meetings for feedback and troubleshooting.
TYPE OF TOOL
- Brainstorming software (RealtimeBoard, Stormboard)
- Communal task board/task management (Asana, Jira, Trello)
- Decision-making software (GroupMap, WE THINQ)
- Group chat (Slack)
- Stand-up/Retrospective software (Google Meet, Standup Bot, Standuply, Retrium)
- Video conferencing (BlueJeans, Skype, Zoom)
- Virtual office (Sococo, Walkabout Workplace)
On-Site Benefit: Trust
A successful team benefits from the sense of personal accountability of working in the same location—of knowing that others will come through with their commitments. The trust that such reliability develops strengthens the team as a whole.
Facilitating Trust Online
GENERAL APPROACH
- Work out loud.
- Demonstrate reliability with results.
SPECIFIC SOLUTION OR DESCRIPTION
- Post your activities online so everyone can see what you’re doing (I Done This, Jira, Salesforce Chatter, Slack).
- Maintain status updates of how you can be reached (IM, Slack, Sococo).
TYPE OF TOOL
- Communal task board/task-management software (Asana, Jira, Trello)
- Virtual office (Sococo, Walkabout Workplace)
On-Site Benefit: Bonding
A successful team benefits from the social aspects of working in the same location since the strengthened social ties of face-to-face interactions strengthen the team as a whole.
Facilitating Bonding Online
GENERAL APPROACH
- Communicate often, via video whenever possible.
- Schedule in-person when possible.
SPECIFIC SOLUTION OR DESCRIPTION
- Facilitate social time.
TYPE OF TOOL
- Group chat (Slack)
- Video conferencing (BlueJeans, Skype, Zoom)
On-Site Benefit: Addressing Conflict
A successful team benefits from in-person communication because facial expressions and body language convey tone and intention. Without that buffering, interpersonal relationships can erode, and minor annoyances can become extended conflicts.
Addressing Conflict Online
GENERAL APPROACH
- Have a team agreement in place that details how everyone wants to work together.
- Communicate via video whenever possible.
- Practice positive communication approaches.
- Use a communal task board or software to indicate who is working on what—thus avoiding task redundancy.
- Work out loud to avoid miscommunication and task redundancy.
- Have feedback loops in place (such as regular Retrospectives).
- Have practices in place to address conflict.
TYPE OF TOOL
- Various
Remote Reminders
- Have high-bandwidth capability.
- Take the time to be savvy with your tools.
- Communicate often.
- Have protocols and etiquette in place, and revisit them regularly.
- Have a forum for raising concerns.
- Continuously try new things.
- Watch out for having too many tools. (Many recommend the occasion of onboarding a new hire as an ideal time to re-evaluate tool choices and etiquette; for more, see Chapter 9: Tune Your Team with a Team Agreement.)