Ah. Remember the days when you could just walk down to your coworker's office for a quick collaboration? As we navigate the coronavirus challenge, and the changes business-as-usual that are sure to arise, you need better solutions.
Yet as a remote worker, your once go-to solution to get those answers has turned into time-eating emails, long text threads, a phone call or two or maybe even fax (kidding). It is frustrating to wait when you need a RIGHT NOW answer. And, if you're trusting on a quick phone conversation to do the trick, odds are, you'll find yourself in the black hole of a 30-minute rehash of the day's top news stories.
Does your team share documents or collaborate on projects? If so, I highly recommend Microsoft Teams or Slack. Both solutions offer desktop and device apps, so you can stay informed and on-task wherever your day takes you.
Along with a quick message system, Microsoft Teams includes the ability to share Office 365 documents for real-time editing. Paid plans include video conferencing and a phone system. You can also instantly turn that group chat into a video conference if needed. Microsoft Teams is one of the best solutions for large organizations or groups with a lot of moving parts.
In my opinion, there are a couple of things that keep Microsoft Teams from taking the top spot.
Inability to set up multiple Teams
Can't share information with people who aren't part of the Team or who do not have a Team account.
If you have a paid Office 365 account, all that's needed is to follow the instructions from Microsoft to get your Team set up. If you don't have a paid account but still want to give Teams a try, Microsoft offers a free lite version of Teams.
The Slack messaging system is great for those who don't have access to Teams or have a Team set up and need an additional team environment. PCMag gives Slack it's #1 recommendation.
From the Slack website:
Teamwork in Slack happens in channels — a single place for messaging, tools and files — helping everyone save time and collaborate.
Channels can be divvied up by team, project, client, or whatever else is relevant to your organization.
Team members can join and leave channels as needed — unlike lengthy email chains.
Other Options
A quick Google search for "Team Messaging Solutions" will bring up a host of options. To filter through the tech noise, I rely on PCMag to give me the most consistent list of reputable options. And while Slack and Microsoft Teams take top spots on both their list and mine, here are a few more options for you to check out.
Do you have a favorite I haven't mentioned? I'd love to hear how you are using messaging apps to streamline your workflow.
Now, the necessary disclaimer, I am not associated with any of these messaging solutions and there are no affiliated links included in this post. I am not receiving any compensation to mention these companies.