Some companies, like Momentum, have embraced the remote work culture for a long time. Others have had policies allowing workers to work remotely on an as-needed basis. Still, others were involuntarily thrust into working from home earlier this year. Regardless of your company’s remote work policy, you’ve likely already invested in collaboration tools and developed practices for working in a digital age.

It makes sense to worry that a permanent work-from-home situation would reduce productivity, performance, or morale; however, the prevalence of remote collaboration tools minimizes these risks. In fact, the nature of these tools leads to more intentional, concentrated, and engaging conversations, which can lead to more creative solutions to complex problems. How did this happen?

Constant Interruptions Prevent Problem Solving

In the traditional face-to-face, open office environment, workers face dozens of mini-distractions that disrupt their flow. Whether it’s a colleague stopping by for a “quick question,” someone using a printer nearby, or a bigger distraction like a meeting, these interruptions make it harder to focus on more complicated tasks.

Losing face-to-face interaction may at first seem like a significant roadblock to remote work success, especially in a team-based environment. However, research shows that constant communication and interaction are less important than focused “bursts” of communication. Our brains struggle with multitasking, and frequent interruptions prevent us from accessing a flow state. A flow state occurs when we are wholly absorbed in the task and allows for creative problem-solving.

So how do remote collaboration tools help improve team performance? It seems counterintuitive that using more apps, like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Hangouts, and their barrage of notifications, could improve performance.

How Remote Work is Making Us Better Collaborators

The key to remote collaboration is control. The remote worker has control over how they communicate: Not every Slack message must be answered. Email can be checked after a task is complete. Every conversation is intentional, where both the message and the medium are considered. An in-person office environment made it easy to communicate spontaneously, but contacting a colleague remotely requires more planning and reduces interruptions.

Collaboration tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and conference calls are often considered less productive than in-person brainstorming sessions. However, these tools have made it obvious how often team members speak over or interrupt each other without realizing it. How many times have you said, “No, you go ahead — oh, sorry, who was that?” in the past six months? These tools have leveled the playing field by forcing us to wait our turn to speak and become more aware of others’ contributions to the conversation.

These tools can transform what work will look like moving forward, but only if workers are permitted to control their environment. Offering tools like Microsoft Teams but requiring an employee to be available for every ping and pop-up can erode productivity. But teams empowered to communicate with intention, not answering every notification, can lead to the same or even better outcomes than the traditional face-to-face office.

Remote Work Solutions

Remote work has evolved from an occasional luxury to a long-term necessity, investing in remote collaboration tools is essential. You can learn more about how Momentum can help you decide which remote tools are best for you by contacting us today.