So, for distance collaboration we just need connect! We have lots of cool technology, with many communication tools: email, telephone conferencing, team websites, instant messaging, social networks, blogs, wikis, webinars, videoconferencing, telepresence, collaborative cloud computing, etc.
But just because we can move information faster, does not mean we are using
it better.
Many teams do some form of team set up, but tend to focus most on the tip of the iceberg: the technology. Technology allows us to make substantial gains in distributed team communication, but we can do more. Who makes the decisions about which communication medium is used when, and under what circumstances? How long does it take you to figure out, for example, that it makes Emily livid if you leave a long voicemail, or that your email to Tyler will never be read, much less answered?
Setting up team and individual communication plans is a crucial part of team set-up. An effective exercise involves having each team member specify and share communication preferences, including the following:
- Best time to contact
- Expected response time
- Preferred medium for different situations
Then have the team do an exercise together to develop a team communication plan to address best use of different technologies:
