We’re an almost-entirely digital society, but when faced with going entirely digital (even temporarily), we’ve seen some challenges. To paraphrase: there’s never been a worse time to be unaligned.
It’s entirely possible that this pandemic will change the way we work forever, in ways we can’t imagine at this moment in time. There’s strong evidence that a mandatory WFH situation will prove that workers with disabilities, those outside commuting distance from an office, and employees who raise children or care for relatives can work just as well from their homes as those who can physically be in an office. Very soon (if not now), we will have to find more and better ways of collaborating with international teams as well as teams with a mix of work-from-home employees and in-office employees.
One of the new challenges our team has overcome is how to facilitate a Connected Cohorts workshop for in-house agencies, their clients, and their partner agencies — not to mention for our direct clients — without anyone being in the same room. Connected Cohorts, as a reminder, is both a philosophy and a methodology for elevating marketing and sales teams by eliminating silos and building bridges inside and outside an organization.
Through a coordinated, collaborative effort, the key outcome of a successful Connected Cohorts workshop and the subsequent strategy is strong top- and bottom-line growth. But how do you do collaboratively come together to make that growth happen when everyone is isolated in their home office, kitchen table, or makeshift desk in a closet?
For one thing: video conferencing systems are absolutely essential. But also, we have to get creative.
- Tools like video, screen share and collaborative views have to work in conjunction with text-only devices like instant messages and comments, all laddering up to the emcee.
- The moderator, (aka emcee and workshop mentor) is critical for keeping the conversation moving and focused, and keeping everyone involved.
- Homework, pre-interviews, and in-workshop digital materials and artifacts are also parts of every workshop that translate perfectly to an all-digital situation.
In many ways, Virtual Connected Cohorts looks a lot like Connected Cohorts. It’s a chance for us to come together with a set of goals, get the teams talking, and address the limitations all companies face: unhealthy internal competition, misaligned actions, isolated communications, and territorial KPIs. The only thing you have to worry about is the snacks. 🍿🍰🥤
Thinking about how to align your teams more effectively? Reach out. We like talking about Connected Cohorts, but we like listening even more.
