Collaboration Tools – web conferencing software

Sheryl Sever asked:




The Web 2.0 revolution is changing the way information is exchanged and allowing individuals, businesses, and communities to connect and share resources, ideas, and solutions like never before. Collaborative expertise is the new key competency for business success.

Fostering a work culture that values and cultivates collaboration is the DNA of team building. As One Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard discovered, in a teamwork environment, people understand and believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done cooperatively. People recognize and assimilate the belief that “none of us is as good as all of us.”

In America, many of our institutions such as schools, our family structures, and our pastimes still emphasize winning, being the best, and coming out on top. Workplaces that exemplify and reward teamwork are not yet the norm.

Organizations, however, are working on valuing diverse people, ideas, backgrounds, and experiences. As part of the social transformation that we see taking place globally, collaboration, co-creation and cooperation seem to be values that are being more readily embraced and promoted in organizational development.

Having consulted many senior managers, educational, and organizational leaders over the past 13 years, I’ve included here my Ten Tips for Building Terrific Teams as a quick guide to cultivating successful teams, encouraging creativity and innovation, and attaining optimal results within your business or organization.

TEN TIPS for BUILDING TERRIFIC TEAMS

1. Communicate Clear Expectations.

It is crucial that team members know why they are working together, and how their role, functions, and outcomes contribute to the bigger picture and overall success of the organization, its clients and coworkers. As a leader, how clearly you communicate the overall vision, mission, and values of the organization will be the power driving the team forward.

2. Have an agenda with objectives at team meetings.

Allow time for progress updates, discussion, brainstorming, and action plans. It can be particularly beneficial if the meeting facilitator is trained in Cross-Cultural Awareness, or Marshall Rosenberg’s Non-Violent Communication practices. Using these techniques will help keep a diverse team cohesive and focused, encourage everyone’s participation, and can easily diffuse and transform stagnation. Change, creativity and solutions are not birthed in a static environment. Are necessary concerns and misunderstandings raised and properly addressed on your team?

3. Include your consultants and independent contractors in your brainstorming meetings.

One of the biggest mistakes some organizations make is to not include consultants and independent contractors in staff meetings, project updates, long-term goals and vision. You will get a lot more mileage from your consultants when they are included in discussions and sessions affecting your organization’s direction and growth. Consultants are typically natural networkers and wealth of resources. They can easily be a powerful contributing factor to your organization’s long-term success and expansion.

4. Cultivate an atmosphere where team members can appreciate the diversity of talent on the team, not just in skill set and areas of expertise, but from a whole person perspective. If the team is working on a long-term project consider investing in the Myers Briggs assessment, DISC or Enneagram training for the workplace.

5. Have a rewards or recognition program in place.

Giving public recognition on the company intranet, newsletter, or in a staff meeting, or rewarding high-performers with gift certificates to a spa or event, are just a few low-cost, no-cost ways to acknowledge team members for a job well done.

6. Build fun and shared occasions into the organization’s agenda.

Hold potluck lunches; take the team to a performance or cultural event. Host dinners at a local restaurant, (include your associates’ families) or plan an outdoor event such as hiking, bicycling, or even river rafting.

7. Encourage collaborative leadership models within your workplace.

Move away from traditional, hierarchical leadership models that are deadening to the human spirit and that can create separation, distrust, and a competitive environment. Focus on cooperative models for team performance. Rotating facilitators at your weekly or monthly meetings is one way to begin this shift. Appointing co-managers to lead a project is another effective strategy.

8. Create opportunities for giving and receiving feedback.

In his recent US tour, the Dalai Lama continually emphasized the importance of dialog, along with education and training opportunities in our increasing diverse and complex society. How well trained are you and your people in examining assumptions, active listening, asking for clarification, and other non-defensive communication models that make it safe for you and your associates to express needs, be heard, and enthusiastically create innovative solutions with and for each other?

9. Provide resources.

One of the surest ways to create chaos and diminish motivation, performance, and morale is to expect people to perform without the tools and resources they need to deliver outcomes they are proud of. Be sure everyone has the basic information and tools they need to perform, including healthy, ergonomic workstations.

10. Form a Green Team at work.

Help your people raise their awareness of opportunities to save energy and contribute to a healthy and sustainable environment. By allowing others to take leadership and responsibility, passion takes hold. A green team can be very motivational for employees who want to make a difference in their work environment.

It takes teamwork to make the dream work!

Jennifer

Paula Pollock asked:




Virtual staff has hit the mainstream now. First it was outsourcing, then off-shoring and now virtual teams are de rigueur in many growing companies. People are located everywhere and with all the fantastic collaboration tools available today, even executives are becoming virtual. Hiring CMOs and CFOs are not requirements during the business growth phase. Some firms hire because they assume that’s the only way they can get talent. But when your goals move from establishing your brand to turning a profit, there are ways you can rent the professionals you need if you know where to look.

Pay to Play: Some companies think they can get great talent just for offering equity share. I don’t need to tell you that 100% of nothing is nothing. Professionals will only accept this deal by knowing (read: hard numbers and facts) that they will gain handsomely. I get these offers myself usually from someone who is outside the U.S. and doesn’t understand our market. It’s better to hire someone part-time than make promises that you can’t keep.

Rent-A- CMO: We saw this trend emerging years ago. Companies need part-time and interim marketing executives and departments. As your business grows, you can no longer “wear all the hats” and “heard all the cats” yourself. You need to focus on the areas where you can make a difference and drive revenue. The marketing you have done in the past to get you here: letting the print shop manage your brand, having your son run your website and writing your own copy, needs to step up considerably to get you there.While some of this could continue, you need someone focused solely on the marketing direction managing the projects and holding everyone accountable.

Rent-A-Marketing Department: Another trend that’s emerging beyond the expensive confines of the agency world is what I’ve coined VMD or Virtual Marketing Department. In addition to the CMO focusing the campaigns and direction, project managers drive deadlines across multiple team members as needed – all outside of your place of business. The trend is away from Do-It-Myself and moving towards Just-Do-It-For-Me.As we specialize in marketing, both online and traditional we have the right people to make it happen. Why spend days – even weeks – looking for talented copy writers, blog writers, project managers, graphic designers, web talent when you could have the entire department managing to your goals? There are affordable options for all sizes of growing business.

Making sure you get just what you need and not paying for more is what smart, growing businesses do. The days of squandering six figure salaries on figureheads are over. Everyone needs to produce. Once you get to the mid-market you can’t afford to play with DIY marketing. The time you take to enjoy updating your own website or writing your own copy can be better done by a professional, in less time and more effectively. This leaves you more time to work with clients and focus on larger sales. Don’t play at your business. Take it seriously or you can’t expect anyone else to.

Ask About the Pollock Marketing Group’s VMS – Virtual Marketing Services.

Lori

Shanie Matthews asked:




As the first days of 2010 quickly slide by, it is hard to believe that we are already ten years into the new millennium. It just seems like yesterday when my husband and I were riding up the 20-person funitel lift at Squaw Valley, in Lake Tahoe, California for the New Year’s count down. Some of our friends thought we were crazy for being anywhere near a mechanical device for fear of the Y2K computer scare. It’s a shared joke now.

For me, 2009 was amazingly inspirational and trying at the same time. Much was learned. Some of the biggest lessons had to do with collaboration. So, in light of the first decade of the 2000 millennium winding itself down and a fresh way to communicate the time period (twenty – ten), I thought it would be only fitting if I share five of my favorite cooperation tools.

1. Laying the foundation.
In the beginning of a project it is important to establish three aspects of the business that will be created. Writing out the Mission Statement, Code of Ethics and Core Values is a positive step in avoiding confusion later. It also helps everyone that is involved be accountable for their role and actions in the organization.

2. Have open communication that supports growth.
A collaboration is a group effort. A fantastic part about working together is the different ideas that will be presented by the various personalities involved. In so saying, it is then a vital aspect of collaboration that members voice concerns, ideas and opinions…as long as it is done in a respectful manner that inspires positive productivity. Complaining just to complain or belittling someone’s thoughts is not only a waste of time, but it also slows done the voice of inspiration. Constructive criticism brings greatness.

3. Take advantage of today’s technology.
It is so amazing the price, efficiency and easy-ability of keeping in touch now-a-days. Working together no longer requires living in the same town, huge phone bills, or the loss of trees for volumes worth of paperwork. Technology truly is a gift to global collaboration.

4. Work from a values-based business perspective.
If you work from a place of good, people are drawn to your efforts. A great example of this is Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. Giving should be a part of all businesses created, because, really, if it wasn’t for the people–whether client or associate–a company would be nothing.

5. Include environmental thinking.
The more people that I collaborate with, the more environmental-friendly personalities I come in contact with. It is truly inspirational. And it reminds me that it is not too expensive, out there or unrealistic to create businesses that are completely and totally green. In fact, collaboration assists us in helping Mother Earth. Our collective genius as a globe has the solutions. The great part of working together is that we as a group can change those aspects of life that must evolve. We can hold ourselves accountable in not only how we treat each other, but also in how we protect the planet.

May we move through 2010 with the ability to advance our thinking and activate the lessons from the past.

Robin

Grace X Kang asked:




Successful project and task management are the hallmark features of effective online collaboration tools. Being available online allows fast, easy communication between different departments, business partners and teams.

Handling A Fast Growing Business

A business can use collaboration software to handle continuous growth and expand operations. Collaboration tools are meant to be used by everyone involved including the business owner, the clients, as well as all members involved in successful project completion who may be employees, off-site contractors and possibly other types of information resources. Online collaboration tools allow remote parties to access information and data from anywhere in the world and communication can be completed in a real-time basis. Group decision making is no longer an arduous task, thanks to real time social technology, discussion threads and intranets.

Communication Is Complete and Timely

With online collaboration tools, team members can communicate with any other member whenever the need arises. This allows for faster, easier addressing of concerns and solving those issues. Additionally, project progress can not only be tracked more clearly but it can also be managed more easily since activity conducted online can be viewed with the click of a mouse button. Project managers can gain access to workflow assignments that will allow for performance measurements and assessments as well as implementing any corrective activity in order to enhance team performance.

Online Communication is in Real-Time

Use of online collaboration tools allows the elimination of what was once considered space-age communication technology, when people would still say, “Let me fax the document over to you for your review.” Document management through online collaboration tools allows instant access for either onscreen viewing or immediate printing to a team member’s printer to take a look at a hardcopy version. Project team members can discuss and make necessary document changes simultaneously with features like co authoring, while engaging in discussion through comments. This opens up immediate sharing and exchanging of ideas, providing for a better, more interactive editing experience. This creates higher degrees of work productivity and faster project completions than traditional past forms of communication, such as e-mail as well as telephone and the obvious hard copy.

What Exactly are Online Collaboration Tools, Anyway?

An online collaboration tool is a web-based software that allows people from remote locations to connect, share data and collaborate in an online environment. People working on the same assignment can work with and collaborate with one another regardless of where they are in the world, simply with an Internet connection. Geographical separation is no longer an obstacle.

Use of instant online collaboration tools helps business and other organizations save a great deal of time and money spent on traveling to meetings or high-priced overnight document delivery.

Melissa

Nahshon Mediros asked:




Get those customers through real time web collaboration. With a palette of appropriate tools, you and your team can boost sales. You’ll have satisfied customers who wont hesitate to recommend you to their friends.

Web Collaboration, What Is It All About?

If you attend a meeting, you expect the following:

1. a prepared agenda.

2. presentation of reports.

3. 100% attendance.

4. discussions.

5. proper documentation of the proceedings.

You can expect the same from web collaboration and more. You can use voice and chat features, or whatever is best to facilitate your sales pitch. You can use either the Internet or your telephone system to respond to your customer’s queries.

In spite of this amazing technology that allows talking to clients in different locations on the globe and sharing your graphs or PowerPoint presentations in real time, you still need the old stand-by – teamwork. Good teamwork will ensure that your web collaboration system is the most efficient there is in the corporate neighborhood.

There’s No “I” in Teamwork

You’ve heard of this rallying pitch. True, there is no I in TEAMWORK. A team of workers are unified through collaborative and organized efforts to get things done properly and fast. When there’s a scheduled web collaboration with clients or suppliers, get things going with your team.

When you call the meeting, let everybody put in their two cents’ worth of ideas and discuss the viability of their proposals. Outline the agenda and the objective so all discussions won’t get out of track. When everybody has an idea of what they are supposed to do, when to do it, how to do it, and with whom to coordinate with, the cogs of the wheels will work efficiently.

If you’re the team leader, make sure that you get the team well-motivated. This is the key to a successful endeavor. Being the team leader does not mean that all you have to do is order people around. You’ve got to dirty your hands too. When the team members see this in you, they’ll work even harder, a sign that they recognize your role as a working head of the team.

You have to foster the principle that everybody is good as everybody else. This kind of teamwork environment with the right people at the right tasks is the winning combination that will make any job, big or small, excellently executed.

Everybody in Place for Web Collaboration

Since web collaboration requires the sharing of web pages, your team must be ready with the necessary materials for presentation. You can work on the PowerPoint presentation if you have the know how to manipulate the program to result in a striking and well-balanced showcase.

Somebody good at Excel sheets can prepare the financial report, another who has the expertise of understanding the collaboration software can show the team how it works. The writers in the group can prepare the necessary content and videos for live desktop streaming. You can say that everybody at their post are doing their jobs well.

When the big day arrives to convince the client that your product is superior, affordable, and is exactly what they need, you’ll cinch the sale in real time. Why? Everything has been done the right way, and smartly too. That’s why web collaboration and teamwork should work together.

Carol

Grace X Kang asked:




More and more companies are adopting online collaboration tools to manage their teams and projects. However, even though tools like SharePoint are laden with incredibly rich user features, IT managers seem to express great surprise when these tools are not adopted easily and used frequently. What they should be aware of is that breaking the corporate habit of using e-mail and adopting new work methods is going to be challenging. Businesses are always exploring new technologies with the promise that workflow efficiency, communication, data sharing and project success will increase – but they should always keep in mind that easy user adoption is key to any tool’s deployment, and therefore, success.

Who Uses the Technology?

While companies employ well qualified IT professionals who do a great job at providing a valuation of different technologies, often there is not a great deal of thought put into how you’re going to actually get your employees to use the new technology. Yes, it may be a cliché that it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but the company that wishes to take advantage of all the newest technology will need to find a way to effectively change individual employee’s personal work habits or the solution will go to waste. This is the “people” part of the equation that needs to be understood.

Obtain Employee Input

One possible area for employee disaffection when it comes to using new collaborative software is that it is being imposed upon them without their approval. This can easily be overcome by inviting employees to be members of the software valuation team, allowing them to examine all available solutions before making a choice. The team will then ask fellow employees what features they would look for to make their jobs easier. Instead of presenting the available brands of online collaborative tools, ask employees to come up with a list of workflow needs or even a list of every day work assignment challenges that can point to the popular features they are really looking for that will make their jobs easier.

Employees will be requesting tools for helping with task management, including document libraries, having the ability to establish and maintain team blogs, wikis and other social media type channels. Although employee feedback may not be implemented in the first phase of your online collaborative tool implementation, managers will find this activity important because it will reveal what tool features are important to users, and what features you may want to look for in the future. People throughout the business organization may have particular user needs that the decision-makers are not aware of and will not include when making a choice. Always ask the users first.

Locating the Best Online Collaboration Tool

When you look to improve employee user adoption, you need to start by involving them in the selection process. Not all of them are created equally. Just because one particular tool comes with so many more features than another one does not make it a better choice. Lots of unnecessary bells and whistles may make the software too confusing and much harder to learn, resulting in increased employee resistance. Select a tool that offers affordability, functionality and a user-friendly experience. This will result in faster onboarding and successful user adoption.

Peter

Shahab Kaviani asked:




Connectivity, Functionality and Price – these are the three-pronged characteristic of high-performing online collaboration tools that every small or medium-size business should have access to, in order to stay viable in the arena of global commerce.

What was implausible even to the imagination became conceivable through the power of convergence on the internet. It has now become easier for small, medium or large businesses with employees, clients, partners and vendors all over the world, to gather and share valuable information, brainstorm for decisions, draw up and implement plans of action, without unnecessary costs and delay.

When subscribing or buying a collaboration tool – make an informed and intelligent choice.

The internet is swarmed by intranet and extranet solutions that choosing the suitable tool for a small or medium-size business becomes a tall order. Most of the power-packed solutions come with a price that a growing business may not be able to afford at the onset. Features of high-end solutions are also customized for the use of large businesses; paying for product features that your small business cannot use, is not a viable decision.

On the other hand, low-key solutions may come with buyer-friendly prices, but may also lack intrinsic features necessary for effective online collaboration and communication. Where does a buyer draw the line?

Connectivity. Opt for a solution that is entirely web-based and does not require an independent IT expertise to manage it. It also has to be compatible with most browsers and platforms.

Functionality. Unless your intranet suite does not comprise all of the following features, most likely, it is not the best:

>Email capability

>Synchronicity with Outlook

>Document Management

>Contact Management

>Online Calendar

>Group Calendar

>Opinion Polls

>Task Manager

>Announcements

>Discussion Forums

>Security

>Data Integrity

>SSL Encryption

>Disk Storage

>Data and Info Imports

>Branding

>Site customization

Price. Steer away from solutions that require you to put up big capital investment up front, unless you are a large business. Sure, there is sharepoint alternative; one that delivers similar top-notch features, but at considerably low price. The best choice yet for most businesses, including yours – discover it.

Effective collaboration powers success – make your collaboration suite the perfect vehicle.

Try this at no cost to you! Yes, many extranet solution providers believe that unless first-time clients experience the benefits of what a collaboration suite can do for their business, they won’t action. You may avail of an offer for hosted solutions 30 days free trial, and start to see the difference.

Rick

Tia Jones asked:




Virtual teams need the support of a secure, easy to use, web-based collaboration environment that allows them to work and share ideas across time zones and continents.

There are many online collaboration software solutions that support efficient communication among members of virtual teams, their superiors and their clients. These web-based collaboration tools provide group calendar management, task management, online conferencing, group forums, spreadsheets and more. In addition, these collaboration software solutions can even track the amount of time that you spend on a project, which is valuable from a project management perspective.

In order to be successful, virtual teams have a few basic needs in common:

o communicate in real time

o share files, photos, audio and video

o manage project milestones, resources and tasks

Most importantly, all of the members of the team need to have access to the most current information in real time so that they can effectively complete their tasks, and contribute to the team’s objective.

Online collaboration tools have greatly facilitated the effectiveness of virtual teams. These tools have saved organizations substantial amounts of money in travel and relocation expenses and allowed teams to assign tasks to employees in distant locations because they help to solve many of the dilemmas suffered by virtual teams.

Most knowledge workers have used email and IM or chatting as a means of collaborating with team members and other co-workers for many years now. But online collaboration software is quickly transforming the world of online collaboration.

So, with the support of a robust online collaboration environment, virtual teams can use the various collaboration software tools to manage their tasks, communicate with each other, and share resources easily and securely to help the team be as effective as possible.

Ann

InsightUSA asked:

There is no such thing as the status quo in the collaboration world where new technologies are introduced all the time. An Insight collaboration specialist provides a closer look at some of the advancements in the unified communications space, focusing on social network integration, video portal, video phones and converged mobility.

Benjamin

Jacob Wright asked:




Life online has continue to grow and develop.