What's the fastest way to get collaborators to invest themselves, or their time, in a new project? Whether they're colleagues within your organization, outsourced or remote talent, customers and clients, or subject experts you're connecting with, the answer is the same: ownership.…
Read MoreGeorgina Laidlaw
5 golden rules for productive digital collaboration
Many have discussed email etiquette, but for the average web worker, the notion of politesse can seem counterproductive. Here, then, are five golden rules for respectful, productive digital communication, whether you're using email, IM, video chat, phone, or other communications tools.…
Read MoreLanding good remote workers in an ailing economy
Many digital freelancers earning U.S. dollars are now receiving substantially less for the same work, as their own nations' currencies gain strength against the U.S. dollar. The rates that U.S. companies offer to remote workers may no longer compete with their local firms.…
Read MoreAre “rebel” remote workers good for business?
Are "untemplaters" -- contract web workers unfettering themselves from the conventional freelance model -- a good skill resource for businesses? To many employers this breed of digital professional might seem flighty and unreliable. Where's the accountability? Can a project as important as yours rest on their contribution?…
Read More3 keys to dispersed team success
It's one thing to work in a team with one or two off-site members. But what about entirely dispersed teams, where none of the members are located in the same office? Team leaders need to consider the interplay of three crucial factors: frequency, transparency, and variability.…
Read MoreAre non-core contributions welcome in your team?
It makes sense to focus on project briefs and core competencies -- after all, these are what gets the job done. But what gets the job done well? Often, it's team members' non-core skills and experience that make the collaboration a real success.…
Read MoreCuration and creation: social media’s dynamic duo
In the desire to be perceived as thought leaders, many businesses are focusing on a curatorial approach to their social media presences. But if you work in a creative team, an approach to social media that leverages your creativity can deliver benefits far beyond brand-customer engagement.…
Read MoreMaintain a culture of collaboration during rapid expansion
Crowdsourcing startup 99designs recently received $35 million in venture capital and is currently advertising six positions in its Melbourne and San Francisco offices. The business has a strong culture and a flat structure. How does the company plan to manage expansion without compromising collaboration or culture?…
Read MoreGet more done by being a better listener
Are you a poor listener? In the context of distributed teams, "listening" needn't be restricted to an auditory process -- it includes your ability to take in information through all communications channels. Here are some tactics to help develop better listening skills.…
Read MoreEducation or Experimentation? Professional Development for Innovative Teams
For innovative teams -- those in startups as well as those innovating within established organizations -- traditional professional development, or PD, has become an anachronism. Rather than being an after-hours, formal, institutionalized proposition, successful professional development in innovative teams is holistic and always-on.…
Read MorePick the Right Collaboration Tools for Your Business
"If you're bolding the bullet points in your email" said a friend of mine recently, "your email's too long." Few web workers would disagree. But that comment made me wonder whether the tools we're using to communicate are becoming more important than the communications we're having.…
Read MoreHas Remote Work Killed Collaborative Creativity?
Gone are the days when creative work was always done by teams operating from the same location. Yet there's a a great deal of creative collaboration that still relies on our being able to "workshop" concepts together. What does remote work mean for creative collaboration?…
Read More