When collaboration was happening in-person, with people huddled around whiteboards and in conference rooms, there was a tendency for the voices of more introverted team members to go unheard. But the seismic shift to remote work has reinvented the way we collaborate.
During a recent virtual event, InVision’s Eli Woolery and Dr. John Maeda, chief technology officer of Everbridge, had a conversation diving into how organizations can transform unproductive meetings to productive collaboration sessions where everyone can contribute.
On the upside: Features like the chat tool on Zoom as well as functions within Freehand that allow dispersed workforces to collaborate asynchronously have leveled the playing field, giving everyone an equal opportunity to share their ideas.
But, collaborating in a remote environment also poses some new challenges when it comes to inclusivity and ensuring everyone can access and get the most out of shared tools.
Collaboration requires inclusivity
John — a renowned designer, technologist, author and teacher — says he’s now focused on how he can be more inclusive in a remote environment, which includes considerations of timezones and whether he should add subtitles to his presentations, speak slower, articulate more, or make transcripts available.
During the chat, you’ll also gain inspiration on how curiosity and humility can fuel creativity and help navigate career changes.
“I know that I don’t really know very much,” John says. “I know that when I watch a YouTube video or read the latest Medium post by someone or catch a thread on Twitter, I’m like ‘Oh, I never thought of that.”
Listen to the full conversation here.
Brittany Anas is a Denver, Colorado-based freelance writer. She is a regular contributor to publications including Apartment Therapy, Forbes and Men’s Journal and previously was a reporter at the Daily Camera in Boulder and The Denver Post. She worked three years as a federal background investigator before transitioning into a full-time freelance role.
