Collaborative work has increased steadily over the last decade, and tasks such as email, instant messaging, and phone and video calls now account for 85% or more of the average individual’s work week. Collaboration is important, but excessive or unnecessary collaboration demands are stifling business efforts to innovate and become more agile.
While teamwork is essential for organizational success, an overload of collaborative tasks can actually decrease team efficiency and productivity. Fortunately, the right tools can help prevent collaboration overload so that teams can improve their productivity and communication.
Collaborative productivity software platforms help cultivate more productive teams by enabling them to focus on data-sharing, working together, and overall team synergy. For example, teams that use Salesforce can improve collaboration and productivity with Quip.
Quip is a virtual collaboration tool powered by Salesforce that gives team members a workspace in which they can collaborate in real-time on shared documents. With real-time CRM data and templated documents and spreadsheets, Quip keeps teams connected, aligned, and productive to achieve business goals.
In this article, we will discuss how platforms that enable or enhance collaboration capabilities are ideal tools for business teams. We will also explore how solutions such as MindManager® can also help teams improve productivity and efficiency without the stress of collaboration overload.
Why business teams need collaborative productivity software
Team productivity starts with communication. If team members are communicating ineffectively or not sharing information efficiently, this poor communication can lead to the following disadvantages:
- Failed or overdue projects
- Low morale
- Missed goals
- Lost sales
The ability to access and share data within a single, consolidated platform helps prevent workflow bottlenecks. This is because employees spend less time searching in disparate data silos and more time on important tasks. Centralizing information makes it easy to access what you need in one place rather than navigating various platforms, emails, or disrupting coworkers to find what you are looking for.
It is important for most organizations to foster collaboration over competition. Competition creates separation and discourages information sharing because each individual is trying to outperform their counterparts.
Creating a collaborative workplace environment helps employees understand how everyone’s success contributes to the success of others, including different teams and departments. This has several advantages for both team members and the company as a whole, because collaborative workplaces:
- Foster a sense of team ownership and accountability.
- Promote knowledge sharing and cooperation.
- Encourage communication across departments and teams.
When all employees are on the same page, it is easier for team members to manage their tasks and workflows and work together to troubleshoot and solve problems.
How to use MindManager to leverage collaboration and productivity tools
To improve work processes and business outcomes, companies will benefit from using team collaboration and productivity tools. Numerous vendors offer an array of collaboration tools and software, but there are many features already available in MindManager that can help business teams enhance their organization, collaboration, and productivity:
- Cloud-based functionality
- Cross-departmental collaboration
- Intuitive, mobile-friendly interface
Cloud-based functionality
Whether team members are remote, on-premises, or a combination of both, everyone needs seamless access to various files and documents. Cloud-based file storage gives users the ability to collaborate on shared documents in real-time and see each other’s changes as they occur.
MindManager delivers cloud-based document management with multi-user collaboration capabilities. Your mind maps and diagrams are stored in a common digital location, and changes made by team members are saved automatically in the cloud.
Thanks to the cloud-based co-editing functionality, MindManager enables team members to work together on files, regardless of what platform everyone is using. This includes platforms such as MindManager for web and Chromebook, as well as Windows, Mac, and Microsoft Teams.
Of course, there may be times when inspiration strikes when you are not using MindManager. Thanks to the MindManager Snap capture tool, users can save images, links, and text found through their desktop, browser, or mobile device. Users can also send content to others through Snap’s teaming capabilities to stay connected with colleagues or groups. All this data will be waiting for you in your Snap Queue the next time you use MindManager.
Cross-departmental collaboration
With the ability to send, share, and edit documents through MindManager’s cloud-based workspace, users can collaborate in real-time and see each other’s changes as they occur. To protect sensitive information and preserve the integrity of finalized documents, users can adjust permission settings using Content Control capabilities.
Content Control protects content against accidental errors and unwanted changes. You can easily control which map elements can be manipulated by other users or extend full editing rights to specific users with password protection.
MindManager integrates with Microsoft Teams, creating a centralized space in which individuals can communicate and collaborate with fellow team members. Using the embedded editor, users can create maps and diagrams quickly and easily without needing to leave the app. To streamline communication, each MindManager tab contains a discussion thread to enable ongoing collaboration.
With MindManager for Microsoft Teams, users stay in their Teams environment instead of needing to search through emails to find information, project feedback, and other communications. Users can assign tasks to team members by tagging them within the map to show everyone where and how they’re expected to contribute. With real-time collaboration, it is easy for team members to streamline tasks by adding comments and making edits that are instantly viewable to others working on the same project.
Intuitive, mobile-friendly interface
The best way to drive team collaboration and productivity is by ensuring that employees can capture ideas, manage tasks, and share files whether they are in the office or on the go. This creates a dynamic work environment in which employees can work from multiple devices to keep projects updated and on track.
With apps for both iOS and Android, MindManager enables users to capture and organize information visually on their smartphones and tablets. Once a file has been shared, there is no need to open it in a web browser. Instead, team members can open and edit files at any time using their preferred device and platform.
MindManager supports multiple map views, which enables users to display and arrange items in a way that makes sense to them and their business needs. It also integrates with leading online storage providers so that you can open, save, and sync content from anywhere and on any device.
As teams collaborate, there may be times when you only want to share a portion of a map or diagram rather than the entire document. MindManager’s map part sharing feature enables you to select a topic in your map and send it to an entire team, specific team members, or even your own dashboard. This intuitive feature streamlines information sharing across teams and projects.
Enhance teamwork with MindManager’s productivity and collaboration features
With tools to organize data, manage projects, and present information visually, MindManager helps teams of all sizes foster collaboration and drive productivity. MindManager is an all-in-one platform of virtual collaboration tools with diagrams and templates that can be easily customized to fit your specific needs.
MindManager’s co-editing feature facilitates real-time document collaboration between coworkers. Comments added and changes made are viewable instantly by everyone, which eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth communication.
For seamless collaboration, MindManager enables teams to work in a non-linear manner. As you put plans, projects, and processes in motion, it’s easy to move topics around, make connections between different ideas, and strategically place any related files, notes, and links.
Ready to unlock new ways to boost collaboration and productivity for your business teams?
