Take a peek behind the scenes of our organization and how we manage remote work.
The tech team is at the core of our innovations and a shining example of effective remote collaboration. Working from different locations doesn’t hinder our creativity or productivity—quite the opposite, it pushes us to adopt powerful tools and well-practiced methods to stay connected and aligned.
At Newboot, we firmly believe that technology is more than a foundation for our products. It’s also the backbone of our daily collaboration, especially when it comes to effectively managing a distributed team. This month, we’re putting the spotlight on the tools and best practices that keep us productive, aligned, and motivated—even from a distance.
The Tools That Keep Us Connected Daily
To ensure smooth communication and optimal collaboration, we rely on the following tools:
- Slack: More than just a messaging app, Slack is our central hub for quick exchanges, file sharing, and organizing thematic discussions through dedicated channels (for projects, teams, or cross-functional topics). Its integrations with tools like Google Drive and Trello save time by reducing the need to switch between platforms.
- Notion: As our shared knowledge base, Notion centralizes important documents, processes, and team objectives. Its flexible format enables us to organize everything from individual task trackers to global strategic plans, keeping all information accessible to the entire team.
- Google Workspace: Google’s collaborative suite, including Docs, Sheets, and Calendar, is essential for real-time co-editing, scheduling meetings, and sharing presentations or reports. It allows seamless synchronization among all team members.
- Miro: In a complex field like ours, visual tools are vital for clarifying and communicating ideas. Miro serves as our interactive virtual whiteboard, helping us map out technical processes, brainstorm new products, and transform abstract ideas into actionable plans. It ensures smooth collaboration, regardless of where team members are located.
- GitHub: GitHub is indispensable for managing our development projects. It enables version control, efficient collaboration on branches, and detailed project tracking through well-documented pull requests, ensuring quality and transparency in our tech team’s work.
- Jira: For task tracking and sprint management, Jira is our go-to tool. Its Kanban boards and advanced tracking features help us prioritize projects, delegate responsibilities, and maintain an overview of each mission’s progress. It’s a must-have for our Agile workflows.
Our Best Practices for Effective Collaboration
To optimize our tool usage and ensure smooth remote management, we’ve established several essential habits:
- Daily Meetings Every Morning: These short, 15-minute meetings allow each team member to share their priorities for the day, flag any blockers, and ensure the team stays aligned. It’s a simple yet powerful way to stay on track together.
- Tech Team-Specific Weekly Meetings: Every Tuesday, the tech team has a dedicated 1-hour session to dive deeper into complex topics, identify challenges, and collaborate effectively on specific issues. This ensures seamless progress on tech projects.
- Clear Task Prioritization: We organize tasks clearly by urgency and importance. This prioritization helps every team member focus on key missions while maintaining an overview of long-term goals.
Zooming in on a Challenge: Real-Time Synchronization
A significant challenge for a distributed team is maintaining effective real-time communication, especially with members across different time zones. By leveraging connected tools like Slack and Google Calendar, we’ve struck the right balance: team members can stay updated on key developments without constant interruptions, and shared time slots are reserved for team meetings, ensuring smooth collaboration.
The Impact on Our Projects
This rigorous organization and high-performing tools allow us to:
- Meet deadlines, even for complex, high-stakes projects.
- Ensure every team member is aligned with objectives and knows exactly what to do.
- Maintain a healthy and motivating work dynamic, essential for achieving our ambitions for 2024 and 2025.
Share Your Thoughts !
Do you use similar tools or practices in your organization? Have any tips or experiences to share? Let us know in the comments !
