Why virtual collaboration is so important

Virtual collaboration may have been reserved for international teams pre-pandemic, but it has now become a part of the daily life of millions of workers. Frequently, staff will join a group meeting first thing in the morning to discuss the day ahead.

However, just because a norm is established, doesn’t mean everyone is happy with it. To investigate the state of digital work, the virtual collaboration platform Lucid Software surveyed workers to understand how they felt about virtual teamwork.

Lucid Software spoke to 3,012 employees in the US, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK who work full-time and participate in at least one virtual meeting in a typical week at work.

The final report identified both the benefits and challenges that the workforce is facing in an increasingly hybrid working world.

The benefits of virtual collaboration

The survey shows that, for a large part, employees have adapted to virtual collaboration; 90% expect it to be the norm for the foreseeable future. This is undoubtedly due to the pandemic, as 87% stated that they have become comfortable with digital collaboration since COVID-19 started.

On the back of the global pandemic, virtual tools have become essential. This is reflected in the fact that 80% believe digital communication enables them to do their job effectively, and 79% say that their company uses virtual meetings to collaborate between teams.

There are also signs that virtual interaction is encouraging more input from those who may choose not to contribute during face-to-face meetings. 67% claimed that they witness those who wouldn’t normally be the type to contribute by sharing their thoughts. 78% also recognized that chat functions of video conferencing software improve their ability to participate.

Nathan Rawlins, chief marketing officer of Lucid Software, commented that workers have seen expectations shift: “The global pandemic has caused two years of uncertainty on how the return to office will shape up, including how the mix of remote, in-person, and hybrid workers will impact the workplace.

“This ongoing uncertainty is forcing organizations to carefully consider how well digital collaboration is working for their employees.

“Amidst the uncertainty, workers have adapted. Our data shows that while there is positive momentum around digital collaboration, there are also challenges and different collaboration styles among the respondents.

“As the workplace continues to evolve, companies will benefit greatly from addressing the needs of these workstyles.”

Addressing issues with digital collaboration

Of course, not everything is perfect in our digital world. The ‘Great Resignation‘ has shown that staff are rethinking their priorities and suffering from burnout.

Lucid Software looked at the issues employees are facing and found that 65% of respondents had at least one issue with their current collaboration platforms and wanted a more user-friendly experience.

On top of this, 72% admit to multitasking while in a virtual meeting, while 45% say the lack of a clear direction or agenda is a challenge. Improving how the agenda is addressed is also a problem as 47% wish for better ways to keep track of key points and action items during meetings.

Engaging staff is vital, and simple measures like creating an agenda, preparing for the meeting with relevant data, and adhering to the key points can create a more structured experience.

Additionally, time management company, Magical, found that 61% of employees said they’re most productive in meetings that last less than 30 minutes. Evidently, being clear and concise can pay dividends.

That’s not to say there’s only one way to communicate with employees. In fact, Lucid Software’s survey found that there are many communication and collaboration styles in the digital workplace.

Styles of collaboration

Over half of respondents have a preferred collaboration style; Lucid Software outlined the options.

Employees can be expressive collaborators. This means that they enjoy visualized communication whether it’s interactive charts, or GIFs and emojis in the work chat. In fact, 69% of expressive employees claim that GIFs and emojis help them express themselves while collaborating with their team virtually.

Of course, there are introspective. 65% of this type of worker prefers a deliberate approach to collaboration where meetings have a clear purpose and finish with goals.

There are also relational employees who value human connection and find virtual meetings draining. As a result, these employees want technology to enable more face-to-face collaborations through calendar blockers and event bookings.

Although there are varied communication types, finding a way to drive purpose and not have voices lost in collaboration is essential.

Particularly as 56% of those surveyed say that virtual meetings are dominated by the loudest and most active voices. There is also a feeling from the majority of respondents (53%) that meetings often fail to capture everyone’s perspective due to too many people being involved.

With this in mind, smaller meetings in a variety of settings with a clear agenda can help all groups collaborate effectively. Not only that, it may stop employees from being distracted in vital calls.