Tools for Teams that need to Talk

Online platforms to help you with asynchronous communication

www.virtualteamleadership.co.uk

Before you have a look at any of these tools, stop.

Integrating a tool into your communication habits takes time. You and your team members will need to become familiar with the platform, so productivity might go down for a while. In particular, you will need to lead by example – and this takes time and energy.

So before you even consider any of the following tools, think about what you’re addressing. Why do you need to bring these tools into your communication process?

How to Use this Guide

I just thought I’d say it again.

Why do you need one of these tools? Be specific. Consider how your team needs to evolve and improve.

To help you do this, download the virtual team audit.Then continue reading.

Why?

http://www.virtualteamleadership.co.uk/audit-virtual-team/

Let’s crack on.

AsanaFocused on productivity and replacing email, Asana is a project management tool which allows conversations to happen around tasks.

The workspace allows for different teams to be formed and to visualise the different projects and tasks you are all working on.

Asana

Best for Project Management, Calendars, Task tracking, Personal and Team projects.

Beware: No central discussion page, so water cooler effect difficult to achieve.

Learning curve (1-5): 4.

BasecampOwned by 37 signals, this was the most popular tool used by virtual teams for a very long while.

It’s mainly a project management tool, so it has everything you need to keep track of your projects.

The tool also has a calendar function and keeps tasks and files neatly together in each project.

It’s also the only non-blue tool in this collection!

Basecamp

Best for Project Management, Sharing small files, Calendars.

Beware: No central discussion page, so water cooler effect difficult to achieve.

Learning curve (1-5): 4.

PodioPart of Citrix Systems, this is a highly customisable workspace. With its Apps function, you decide what features you include.

Individuals can change the look of their workspace and the homepage shows both conversations and tasks.

You can have different workspaces for different projects.

Podio

Best for customisation: Build the platform you need. Great for keeping track of external communications.

Beware: Its strength is also its weakness: customisation makes it difficult to set up.

Learning curve (1-5): 5.

TrelloWith its beautiful boards and cards, Trello is the most visual of all these tools. You can drag and drop the cards around the workspace.

Trello also has some cute features and has in-built gamification, designed to motivate people to return to the space.

Built by Fog Creek, Trello plans to remain free forever.

Trello

Best for Managing lots of projects, Gamification, Aesthetically pleasing.

Beware: Gamification can get in the way, Discussions only project based.

Learning curve (1-5): 3.

YammerNow owned by Microsoft, Yammer is one of the most popular enterprise social networks.

It’s used in organisations to bring people from different departments together and to share updates and information.

You can form project Groups, invite external people into Networks and it has a chat function. You can join the Yammer Customer Network for support.

Yammer

Best for Discussions, Water Cooler Conversations, Chat, Gamification.

Beware: At present, you can’t delete the network. There is no calendar available.

Learning curve (1-5): 3. (1 if you’re used to using Facebook.)

And now what?

Next:

Talk to your team. What do they want? Talk to others inside and outside of your

organisation. Have a play. (Platforms have a free option,

except for Basecamp, but they have a free trial.) Evaluate use. Pick a platform. Draft some guidelines. Monitor and review with your team.

Notifications. You don’t want to increase the number of emails people are getting, so work out how to turn notifications on and off.

Privacy and Data Protection.Before you start using an external platform, find out whether they can be integrated into your intranet and be mindful of the data you share. The different platforms usually address this in their Help section.

Look out for:

Technology is only part of the solution.

Only your behaviour and commitment to working together will take your team to the next level.

Finally…

Thank You for Reading!For more detailed information on working in and

leading virtual teams, visit

http://www.virtualteamleadership.co.uk

And drop me a line if you need any help. pilar@unusualconnections.co.uk