Collaboration doesn't happen naturally in remote teams.

Unlocking the true power of remote work means mastering the art of virtual teamwork – and it's a skill that can make or break your success.

Why It Matters

The collective intelligence of a team is far greater than the sum of its individual parts. This intelligence can elevate every phase of a project, from initial brainstorming to final review.

But here's the catch: the communication challenges introduced by remote work can undermine your team's collaborative efforts. That's why it's crucial to approach virtual teamwork with a considered and intentional strategy.

Take Action

To unlock the full potential of collaboration in your remote team, you need to prioritise staying connected and aligned.

Identify your goal

• Be clear on the intended outcome or product of your collaborative efforts.
• Frame collaboration as a learning opportunity to create a psychologically safe environment for contributors.

Determine when and where

• For each collaborative task, make a strategic decision: should your team co-locate or work remotely?
• Become familiar with the different modes of collaboration (synchronous and asynchronous) so you can take advantage of the benefits of each mode.

Determine how

• Select collaboration tools that are most suitable for the task at hand and the level of co-location. Remember, technology can't fix poor collaborative foundations.
• Protect your collaboration time from external interruptions, whether from the home or the office by creating a distraction-free zone for your team to focus.
• Experiment with different toolsets and collaboration modes for successive collaborative activities. Embrace the trial-and-error process to find what works best for your team.

Unlock the full potential of remote collaboration for you and your team, download our free guide "Virtual collaboration vault: 18 Tools and techniques to improve remote teamwork".

Learn more

The science and art of collaboration have been studied for years, but the rise of remote and hybrid work has added a new dimension to the equation. While digital technologies have opened up wonderful opportunities for virtual teamwork, they can't work their magic if your collaborative sessions were underperforming even in the office.

The key to success lies in careful preparation and intentional design. By mastering the art of virtual collaboration, you can unleash the full potential of your remote team and achieve remarkable results, no matter where your team members are located.

Go Deeper

• Bresman, H., & Edmondson, A. (2022). Research: To excel, diverse teams need psychological safety. Harvard Business Review. Link
• Castelló, M., Kruse, O., Rapp, C., & Sharples, M. (2023). Synchronous and Asynchronous Collaborative Writing. In O. Kruse, C. Rapp, C. M. Anson, K. Benetos, E. Cotos, A. Devitt, & A. Shibani (Eds.), Digital Writing Technologies in Higher Education : Theory, Research, and Practice (pp. 121-139). Springer International Publishing. Link
• Edmondson, A. C., & Bransby, D. P. (2023). Psychological Safety Comes of Age: Observed Themes in an Established Literature. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10(Volume 10, 2023), 55-78. Link
• Global Workplace Analytics. (2024). The 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report: Balancing employer & employee preferences. Link
• Hodgson, J., Kalir, J., & Andrews, C. D. (2023). Social Annotation: Promising Technologies and Practices in Writing. In O. Kruse, C. Rapp, C. M. Anson, K. Benetos, E. Cotos, A. Devitt, & A. Shibani (Eds.), Digital Writing Technologies in Higher Education : Theory, Research, and Practice (pp. 141-155). Springer International Publishing. Link
• IDRC Contributors. Remote Co-design Guide. Link
• LeMay, M. (2021). Is Your Team Struggling with Remote Work? Try a Synchronous Sandwich! Link