12 Tips to Boost Remote Work Collaboration In 2024

Introduction

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller.”

Now, it is already a no-brainer that collaboration fosters growth. Still, you see, we all live in a changing milieu. So, remote work settings are getting more common than you think, but does that mean we need to collaborate more?

Not by a long shot! Collaboration is needed now more than a fish needs water for seamless synergy in this brave new virtual world. Together is better than struggling along as a lone ranger, so let’s skip to the Lou and zoom together towards success.

So, effectively collaborating with your distributed team is more critical than ever. However, remote collaboration often faces challenges like lack of in-person communication, coordination issues, and feelings of isolation. 

In this blog, we’ll explore remote collaboration, some principles for success, and 12 practical tips you can start implementing today to boost productivity with your remote team.

What Is Remote Collaboration?

Let’s understand the basics first,

Remote collaboration is the process of knocking down obstacles presented by geographic spread, so workforce decentralization is no hindrance for people powering projects as a unit. It empowers communication and output among a circulated employee corps intent on the same focus point, regardless of location. While telecommuters might be far and between, remote collaboration instruments can connect them regardless. 

Such remedies smooth the way for dispersed collectives to interact and thus team up to propel efforts ahead from everywhere equally—like they were all convened under one ceiling. Provided utilized right, the tech vanguards overcome separation by distance to facilitate remote laborers performing as a cohesive, tightly integrated team even with operating offsite.

Now lets look at the 12 tips to boost remote work collaboration 2024,

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Schedule Video Calls Whenever Possible

Out of sight, out of mind – that’s like the number one enemy of remote work!

Nothing can make you feel more ‘in the loop’ than seeing everyone’s faces on the standups. Don’t you all agree?

While messaging worked for quick updates, virtual coffees and check-ins over video built rapport in a way chat couldn’t replace. You see interactions, catch spontaneous side discussions, and learn much from watching teammates discuss issues. It is just amazing what non-verbal cues reveal! 

It is no wonder that, as we approach 2025, about 95% of companies leveraging video conferencing report increased productivity within their organizations. 

Video calls take more effort than a quick message, but seeing facial expressions and body language helps form bonds. Even a 15-minute video catchup each week with teammates works wonders.

This even extends to working with contractors and freelancers. Let’s say you’re working with a contractor in the UK, for example. While there are plenty of payroll services for UK contractors to ensure you pay them on time, it’s just as important to gather their feedback to understand how to maximize future collaborations with contract and freelance staff.

Find Synchronous Work Times

Synchronous communication refers to the real-time interaction between two or more individuals with an anticipation of prompt or nearly instant responses. 

30% synchronous communication is considered beneficial for workplace efficiency and productivity.

Time zone differences make synchronous work challenging at times. To maximize overlap, you can discuss core hours for real-time collaboration. Say- if you are a morning person, you’ll be online from 9 to noon, your teammate’s time. Others in your team can also share their availability. 

Just knowing colleagues would be present at specific windows can be motivating to hash out debates and reviews together in real time. Working through issues instantly rather than over prolonged asynchronous threads is satisfying.

Our team at Chisel blocks out daily “focus time” when we all work independently but are available via chat. Knowing others are online simultaneously reduces procrastination and makes scheduling impromptu meetings easy.

Communicate Project Status

Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively.- Gerald R. Ford, former United States president

This stands true for teams, too, especially in a remote setting. 

Staying in sync remotely requires diligent status updates. Your chat becomes flooded with progress threads that are sometimes easy to lose track of over time. Each Friday, you can have one ‘State of the Union’ to recap milestones. That way, nothing slips through the cracks unnoticed! Hearing teammates summarize accomplishments and plans face-to-face can even help product managers prioritize efforts, too.

Sharing updates in chat or product management tools is critical. Still, Leaving a comment on a document explaining progress helps virtual coworkers feel included. The extra details go a long way.

Get To Know Coworkers Beyond Work

You know, work-life balance is all good, but who wants to spend their day isolated and alone? Don’t get us wrong—independence is essential, too. But working remotely doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected to our colleagues. 

Building solid relationships is crucial to enjoying work more and being more productive. Having that social support makes a huge difference.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Schedule check-ins, even if just quick calls. It’s incredible how chatting regularly keeps communication flowing so smoothly.
• Take an interest in each other beyond projects. We all have interests – find out about people’s lives outside the 9-5. Sharing stories is how real bonds form.
• Be social butterflies! Jump in team discussions. The more we interact, the closer our work bonds will feel, even from afar.
• Lighten things up with casual icebreakers now and then. You’d be surprised how much you can learn about each other through silly questions, too.
• In-person time is golden when possible. Nothing replaces getting to know colleagues face-to-face at company offsites.

The people we work with are such a big part of our lives. Making an effort with connections is worthwhile for happiness, teamwork, and even mental well-being. Isolation might keep us ‘productive’ sometimes, but relationships are what enrich our work in the long run.

Use Collaboration Tools Effectively

Agree on collaboration tools. Pick the leading platforms for file sharing, messaging, meetings, etc, and train everyone on using the chosen apps.

Remote collaborative software should streamline communication, facilitate planning and task management, and provide transparency into ongoing work. With the right toolkit, geographic boundaries can encourage teamwork toward a common objective. This is where selecting and leveraging tools like Chisel can make a big difference for remote collaboration. Features provided allow dispersed teammates to work as one cohesive unit despite separation.

The tool offers ideal features to enhance remote team collaboration, such as the Idea Box, Feedback Portal, and integrated surveys.

• The centralized Idea Box allows dispersed teams to capture, organize, and prioritize all product feedback in one place. New ideas can be added manually or imported.

• The Feedback Portal empowers remote collaboration by making it easy for customers and team members to submit new ideas from anywhere.

• Versatile integrated surveys help remote teams conduct user research virtually, such as needs assessments and usability tests with pre-built templates.

• The Audience panel facilitates targeting the right customers for remote surveys when the team lacks active users to engage directly.

• Chisel AI tags, synthesis, and classification help remote teams organize large volumes of feedback at scale without a heavy manual workload.

• Features like the Feature Treeview, Kanban view, and Timeline help distributed teams effectively plan, track work, and visualize the product roadmap while working remotely.
• Encouraging participation through voting and comments fosters inclusiveness among remote team members in prioritizing work.

Host Virtual Social Events

Whether a casual Friday game night via video call or a monthly book club, planned socializing reminds us we’re people first. I’ve found these foster closer ties than only chatting about work.

One of the things you all can try is a virtual escape room on Friday. It is always fun to build camaraderie without being in the same space. Team bonding is so necessary when you can’t hug worries away. 

You can always volunteer to research options and find an experience the whole group would enjoy, like solving puzzles together while casual conversations naturally flow.

Give and Respond to Compliments

As Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford, said to his employees, “It’s all about appreciating them, respecting them, and thanking them at every step of the way.” 

Compliments are recognized for their ability to elevate mood, boost morale, and consequently increase productivity. 

Neuroscientists have demonstrated that verbal affirmations stimulate brain regions similar to monetary rewards.

Create a culture where acknowledging each other’s wins breeds motivation even from afar. As a product manager, you can implement a weekly practice of sending compliments via direct message. Replying with thanks and precisely what you’re grateful for builds everyone up individually. It reminds us that we’re not alone in this, even when we’re apart.

Recognizing others’ contributions, even small wins, keeps teams motivated. As a product leader, you should thank people publicly in your common channels when they go above and beyond.

Share Your Screen in Meetings

Collaboration is crucial in today’s working world. Many companies have become more distributed, with remote and flexible working arrangements. But, staying connected across different locations can only be challenging with the right tools. That’s where screen sharing helps fill the gap. 

The other day, we were listening to a meeting where two colleagues were troubleshooting a problem by sharing their screens. Rather than endless back and forth over chat or emails, they could instantly see what the other was referring to. The issue was identified and solved in no time, thanks to the visual aspect of screen sharing.

See problem solved and great for collaboration, too.

Screen sharing is also ideal for onboarding and training newcomers to a remote team. Explaining complex systems or processes over the phone can be difficult without visual aids. However, by sharing desktops, someone new to the role can follow along step-by-step as things are demonstrated directly on the screen. Any questions that come up can be cleared up right in the meeting. 

It feels much more personal than other remote options. It sets people up for success even when in-person onboarding isn’t possible. Plus, keeping engagement levels up on video calls can be challenging. Still, screen sharing adds an interactive element that helps hold people’s attention.

Being remote, it’s easy to disconnect during discussions and miss non-verbal cues. Screen sharing slides, documents, or notepads during virtual catchups keeps everyone on the same page.

Communicate Expectations Clearly

As more teams are distributed across different locations, setting clear expectations is crucial to making remote collaboration run smoothly. When you’re in a different space, misunderstandings can easily crop up if everyone is on the same page. Taking time upfront to lay out communication norms and project guidelines clearly will save headaches.

• Define hours of operation and response times. Teams need guidelines around when people are typically online and how quickly emails/messages will be addressed.
• Assign collaboration roles. Designate people to lead meetings, take notes, share screens, etc., to smooth workflows.
• Establish meeting protocols. Discuss agenda sharing, participation expectations, and recording policies to keep virtual meetings productive.
• Set documentation practices. Determine what gets documented where—notes, tasks, and decisions in the same centralized places help everyone stay in the loop.

Clear communication is the backbone of any successful remote collaboration. Taking time at the start lays the foundation for efficient, understanding teamwork, regardless of where members are located.

Be Present in the Moment

The remote working setup is on the rise. Currently, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, illustrating the rapid normalization of remote work environments. Staying focused during virtual meetings and check-ins is so essential. It’s too easy when home alone to get distracted by household chores, family things, or even just the lure of checking emails. But being fully present shows you respect everyone’s time who is logging on to connect.

Only by engaging can you get a sense of people’s energy levels or reactions just from their faces on video. It allows you to ask questions that move the work forward or share ideas that could help progress projects.

Concentrating will be even more crucial as the remote trend continues growing. We found that around a third of Americans, or 32 million people, will be remote regularly by 2025. If we’re all focused during calls meant for alignment, it’s easier to feel genuinely connected as a group and build the camaraderie that sparks creativity. Checking out mentally doesn’t instill much confidence that you’re fully committed. 

You can also build genuine understanding between locations by paying attention to what others are saying. Then, we can problem-solve together better and come to decisions that further our business goals. Making the effort to focus leads to so much more innovation when collaborating from afar.

Find Your Routine

Finding a routine that works when collaborating remotely is essential for well-being and productivity. 

Cara Delevingne said that “balance allows our best work to shine through. Small changes like standing at a makeshift desk or taking mobile meetups outdoors can boost energy levels and inspiration.”

• Schedule movement breaks. Even a 5-minute walk between long sprints of focus refreshes the mind.
• Incorporate stretches. A quick morning routine helps the body prepare to take on the day’s tasks.
• Find a light with your lunch. A mid-day stroll in natural light lifts the spirits during critical recharge times.
• Switch up your workspace. Mobility within your environment prevents restlessness, so you bring your best self to virtual huddles.

We all understand busy seasons happen when dedication must come before self-care. But regularly making time to unwind and recharge allows us to perform at our best and feel genuinely energized connecting with teammates, even when apart.

Conduct Regular Surveys to Understand How to Collaborate Better.

As remote working grows, collaboration can be challenging when your team is miles apart. So many tools are available these days, like Zoom, Slack, and some fantastic product management tools like Chisel, that many assume we’ve solved remote collaboration issues. But have we?

Through personal experience and talking with coworkers, we’ve found that while the tools help, true collaboration depends so much more on understanding each other as people—things like working styles, communication preferences, and strengths/weaknesses. Even the best apps can feel sterile and shallow without that human connection.

That’s why we think regularly conducting surveys is so important for remote teams. These surveys ask not just functional questions about which tools to use but also more personal questions. 

• What energizes you about projects? 
• What stresses you out? 
• How do you like to collaborate—in quick chats or thorough discussions? 
• What collaborative habits could we improve as a team?

The answers, in turn, help managers thoughtfully tweak how we work together. Introvert teammates may feel more engaged when specific discussions move to asynchronous chat. Or extroverts would welcome occasional video catchups just for bonding.

Continually tapping into employee insights ensures our collaboration doesn’t become cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all over time. It stays dynamic and strengths-focused as our team and needs to evolve. Most of all, regular surveys remind us that behind every tool and task are real people – and keeping those human connections vibrant makes remote work thrive.

Conclusion

Well, there you have a dozen ideas for taking your remote collaboration game to the next level in 2024! Putting these tips into practice won’t always be easy. Challenges will surely still come up when you can’t high-five coworkers face-to-face. But if you focus on open communication, keep an ear out for each other’s needs, and remember we’re all in this together. Your team can thrive no matter the distance between you. 

Feel free to mix things up when one approach stops feeling right. You’ve conquered this whole remote work thing as long as you prioritize that human connection daily. Now, empower your fantastic crew! You’ve got this.