7 Collaboration Technologies You Need In A ROWE - Workology

7 Collaboration Technologies You Need In A ROWE - Workology 7 Tools We Rely On Most at ROWE As you may be aware, a Results-Only Work Environment is a place where all team members have the freedom to define how they manage their time and locations. ROWE is not telework, flex-time, or a work from home program. However, one of the by-products of a ROWE is that not everyone is always together in the office at the same time. We often have team members who regularly get their work done from home, from coffee shops, from other states, and in the office. Because of this, we rely on technology to make sure we create an environment in which its easy to collaborate even if team members are sometimes in different locations. 7 Tools We Rely On Most at ROWE Skype Without a doubt,  Skype  is the workhorse of our virtual collaboration. Our team members tend to leave Skype open (including on  mobile devices) during times when we are ready to be available. It doesnt mean were always working when Skype is open but it does mean we are online and happy to answer questions or help out with something. This lets us dissolve the traditional barriers of being at work from 8-5 and then unavailable after 5. At all hours of the day, there is usually someone online to help out. Skype lets us send quick questions via IM, do quick voice calling over the Internet, or video conference if we need do. We can also easily do a screen sharing session if we need to demo something or illustrate a point. It really helps keep us all closely integrated without having to be in the same location. Basecamp We would go nuts without  Basecamp. This simple tool gives us an easy way to manage projects, todo lists, deadlines, discussions about tasks, and file sharing. Basecamp can be accessed via any device and is elegant and easy to use. No matter when we work, we can set up tasks in Basecamp, assign them to others, and then discuss the work right there in the system. It gives us a virtual bridge between people who might be working asynchronously. It also keeps work from slipping through the cracks. GoToMeeting We have clients all over the country and when we need to set up a group meeting or meet with remote clients,  GoToMeeting  is our tool of choice. It allows conference calling, VoIP calling, screen sharing, video conferencing, meeting recording, and serves groups up to 25 people. Its software-independant which means anybody with a web browser can use it. Weve gotten so good with GoToMeeting that we dont give it a second thought and we sometimes feel like we are collaborating better via GoToMeeting than in person. Dropbox Let me count the ways we love  Dropbox. Ok, I dont have enough fingers for that. Dropbox is a virtual file server in the cloud that lets everyone work on the same files without having to email things back and forth. We have a nice, organized file structure set up and we can drag and drop files into Dropbox and edit them right there. Files instantly sync  up so everyone always has the latest version. Dropbox is also available on iPad, iPhone, and other mobile devices so we can access files with extreme flexibility. Google Drive (Docs) When we want to quickly draft up ideas, take notes, or collaborate on a document together, well use  Google Drive  (formerly Google Docs). A document within Google Drive is a living, editable document that is updated in real time as people make changes. All revisions are tracked and we can roll back any time. We can also easily share docs with others and export to PDF, Word, etc. It sure beats emailing Word documents around using the track changes feature. With Google Drive, everyone is always working on the same version so everyone is up to date. Laptops and mobile phones We do not buy deskop computers. Ever. Everyone gets a laptop, with no exceptions. We dont want anyone to feel chained to a desk for any reason so our computer inventory is 100% mobile. Were a Mac-centric team so we love the  MacBook Air. Its powerful, slim, and light weight and the battery lasts for most of the day. Additionally, we dont buy desk phones. Everyone buys their own cell phone and we pay for the service. Why have a big, ugly, immobile desk phone sitting there when you could do the same thing on your iPhone and be mobile? This keeps us agile and connected from anywhere. Ruby Receptionists One of the issues with having no set work schedule is that there is not always someone available to answer incoming calls. We solved this problem by working with  Ruby Receptionists. The Ruby team answers our calls from 8am 9pm Eastern time and greets our callers cheerfully and with competence. They know our business and we actually consider them part of our team. They will send calls to the appropriate persons mobile phone. They send voicemails via email and take messages, as well. Ive gotten client calls from other states and even other countries before and all the caller had to do was call the office to reach me. Simple and frictionless. Make virtual collaboration a habit These technologies really help us eliminate friction from our work. Team members are truly free to work when and where they want to while always having the ability to stay in touch, collaborate, and get work done. If youre uncomfortable making the leap to a ROWE and adopting these kinds of tools, my advice is to take a leap of faith. Talk to people who are doing it on a daily basis.   Its dreamy to be in a place where the office is a tool, rather than a requirement. Its a great tool for meetings, quiet work space, and client interaction, but its not a necessity. Our cloud-based systems give us total freedom and control so we can focus on the work. After all thats whats important, right?