Collaboration

Approach collaboration with deeper intention using these resources

Improve productivity and collaboration by creating a more flexible schedule

By the team at SlackSeptember 12th, 2022Illustration by Francesco Ciccolella

There’s a reason many employees are uncomfortable with the idea of “returning to normal” in the workplace: the old ways of working were inflexible. Recent Future Forum research highlights that a flexible working schedule reduces anxiety, increases satisfaction with working arrangements and improves productivity.

So how do you get there? Enabling a flexible working schedule requires rethinking when, where and how we work together. Below, we’ve provided some resources to help you reimagine collaboration at your organization.

Start with good ol’-fashioned communication

In order for asynchronous, or on-your-own-schedule, collaboration to thrive, working expectations and digital norms must not only be discussed, but documented and reinforced. At a team level, an ideal work environment includes individual working preferences and sets shared expectations to increase cohesion. Curious what this could look like? Download a team-level agreement template.

Remember that intentionality is everything

Think about digital norms as a traffic signal. When a red light means “stop” and a green light “go,” accidents are mitigated because of a shared understanding of how to work together in a collective space.

Aha asynch campaign 2 gif

At either the team—or, eventually, organizational-level, define expected behaviors and meanings behind reacji (an emoji response to a message) to ensure fluid communication. When these norms are defined, your collaboration in Slack facilitates action. We recommend you start by defining your digital norms, and check out an example etiquette message for inspiration.

Pilot asynchronous collaboration at your organization

 

If you’re ready to experiment with asynchronous collaboration, read our blog for experimentation ideas and tips for securing leadership buy-in. Also, consider reviewing the situations for—and transition points between—asynchronous or traditional synchronous collaboration.

If you’d like to discuss this information with your team, access this customizable Block Kit template, and then navigate to the top right of your browser, select a channel (or DM to yourself as a test) from the drop-down, and click ‘Send to Slack.’

Was this post useful?

0/600

Awesome!

Thanks so much for your feedback!

Got it!

Thanks for your feedback.

Oops! We're having trouble. Please try again later!

Keep reading

Collaboration

How to Use Online Collaboration Tools for Increased Productivity in the Workplace

Communication platforms make work simpler, more enjoyable, and more efficient.

Transformation

Maximizing Productivity with Knowledge Management Tools and Solutions

Take your team’s performance to the next level with a strong knowledge management system

Collaboration

Top Strategies for Improving Business Productivity

Customize a blueprint that engages your workers, both at the office and from home

Collaboration

Psychological Safety First: Building Trust Among Teams

Employees can benefit from being vulnerable at work, and that comes with knowing it’s OK to take risks and sometimes fail