The world of work may have evolved beyond our wildest dreams (hellooo, remote capabilities), but why is it that too many workplaces still deal with hurdles that should have been left in the past?
The quick answer? Because there hasn’t been enough exploration—or explanation—of the modern tools and capabilities now at our disposal. Hey, learning curves are very real. We get it. Plus, the unknown can feel intimidating!
That’s why we teamed up with Atlassian to create this handy explainer that highlights workplace hurdles and how you can effectively leverage modern tools and practices that just might become your brand-new go-tos.
Without further ado, here are three common workplace productivity barriers plaguing the modern world of work—and how your org can evolve past them.
1. Unproductive meetings
You’ve probably sat through one too many of these.
It’s a meeting that doesn’t include purposeful direction, time usage, or meaningful discussion. The last thing you want to think to yourself after a meeting is, “This could’ve been an email.”
According to Atlassian research, people cite time spent in meetings as the #1 barrier preventing them from completing their day-to-day tasks. Meeting overload is ranked ahead of lack of motivation, unclear goals, and unclear responsibilities. Sheesh.
Human connection is paramount, and no matter how work evolves, connecting with your colleagues is key. So how can teams ensure their meetings are productive and effective while also keeping their team’s time top of mind?
Evaluate your meetings with this question: How am I using this time most effectively for everyone in attendance? A written agenda included with meeting logistics and details can help attendees understand the purpose and flow of the meeting beforehand. This can be as simple as bulleted notes on who’s speaking, the topics to be covered, and why they matter.
Pre-watch videos can also become the unsung hero for making meeting time all about discussion and alignment. Consider recording a five-minute Loom (no, we’re not talking about weaving—although this method can weave together time and efficiency pretty nicely) to share ahead of a large meeting. Include a short walkthrough of the context, any relevant data, and key discussion points for the meeting. Prep is key for all.
If you’re just sharing something like a simple status update, record it as a Loom video and let your team view it within a time frame (and time zone) that works best for them. They can tap into speed preferences (like watching at 1.5x speed), read an AI-generated summary, and leave questions or comments directly on a video.
Sean Stanley, Documentation and Internal Communications Partner at HR platform Remote, says expanding Loom’s usage has been an enabler for increasing efficiency and collaboration, even when employees can’t—or don’t want to—meet at the same time. “We don’t necessarily want to be asynchronous, but we have to be because we’re a global company,” says Stanley.
2. Miscommunication spirals
Although DMs and emails are great for sharing quick messages, they’re not exactly known for their nuance.
In fact, Atlassian research shows that 64% of workers waste time struggling to interpret written messages from colleagues. Written communication’s perceived tone depends on all sorts of factors, which is why most folks have been in a seemingly never-ending back-and-forth clarification thread on Slack at least once.
The good news is, you don’t need to spend hours spiraling about an unclear message or waiting days for calendars to align to clear things up with a meeting. When communication lacks that pivotal personal touch, consider turning to visual mediums. Personalize and clarify questions and assignments with tools like Loom. Record your screen for a guided walkthrough of a question, process, or document.
“Loom allows me to share my personality with people who are not always going to see me face to face. It conveys information that my written communication might miss, especially tone, personality, and my values as a team leader,” notes Rebecca Applewhite, Director of Solutions Consulting at Remote.
This highlights an important reminder: Modern tools like Loom aren’t built to dramatically change how we do our work. They’re there to save us time and reinforce what’s important to us as leaders and colleagues.
3. Siloed celebrations
Your team is an incredible bunch. (This you know.) But how often do you share big wins or success stories with your larger organization? In our remote and hybrid world—and even in the fully-in-person world—quality feedback is key to success and growth.
Sharing monthly written or visual recaps of the projects your team completed while shouting out specific members can go a long way toward upping team morale and breaking down organizational silos. This isn’t just a feel-good project—it also creates organizational visibility into the goals you’re achieving as a group and for the people doing the heavy lifting. Otherwise, in distributed workplaces, it can be difficult to avoid siloing.
Looking for a creative way to cobble together a highlight reel? Ask each team member to record a key win and a learning, then stitch them all together into a reel. You don’t need video production experience to use Loom’s AI-powered editor. This can help build exposure for your team, give everyone a round of hype when the emoji reactions pour in, and serve as a check-in against company goals or OKRs.
It shouldn’t just be the C-suite that gets to share their tasks, to-dos, and achievements. For a holistic organizational feel, teams should consider developing a feedback model that celebrates, includes, and reminds as necessary.
And you don’t need to wait for an all-hands meeting to celebrate a project well done.
A new world
In this modern—and distributed—world of work, it’s time to turn to modern solutions to evolve teams forward. The good news? These changes don’t have to be intimidating. They can fall right in step with work you’re already doing while taking it further in the right direction.
Workplaces may be distributed, hybrid, remote—take your pick. But just like we’ve learned through adopting evolved models, changes like these can actually propel you forward into positive places you never saw coming.
What will your team discover next?