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How Small Remote Teams Can Rock Their Online Whiteboard Sessions
In the world of remote work, online whiteboards have become indispensable tools for collaboration, brainstorming, and project planning. But how can a small remote team ensure they’re getting the most out of their virtual whiteboard sessions?
Here’s a fun and practical guide to help your team prepare for and ace those online whiteboard collaborations.
Step 1: Choose the Right Whiteboard Tool
Before diving into preparation, make sure you have the right online whiteboard tool for your team. Popular options include Miro, MURAL, and even Canva. Each has its unique features, so take some time to explore which one fits your team’s needs best. Key considerations include:
– Ease of use: Can everyone on the team navigate it comfortably?
– Features: Does it offer the tools you need, such as sticky notes, drawing tools, and templates?
– Integration: Does it integrate well with other tools your team uses, like Slack or Trello?
Step 2: Set Clear Objectives
Before you gather around the digital canvas, ensure everyone knows the purpose of the session. Are you brainstorming new ideas, mapping out a project, or solving a specific problem? Clear objectives help keep the session focused and productive.
– Define the goal: What do you want to achieve by the end of the session?
– Assign roles: Who will facilitate the session, who will take notes, and who will present ideas?
– Create an agenda: Outline the main points to be covered and allocate time for each segment.
Step 3: Prepare the Space
Just like you would set up a meeting room, prepare your online whiteboard space in advance. This helps save time and ensures the session runs smoothly.
– Templates: Use one of our GrowthSprint templates to structure your session. Or, whether it’s a SWOT analysis, a Kanban board, or a mind map, having a template ready can save valuable time.
– Pre-fill Information: Add any necessary background information, goals, or context to the board beforehand. This gives everyone a head start.
– Set Permissions: Ensure everyone has access to the whiteboard and knows how to use the basic features. Test the tool to avoid technical glitches during the session.
Step 4: Equip Your Team
Make sure everyone on the team is equipped and ready to contribute. Here’s how:
– Tech Check: Ensure everyone has a stable internet connection and knows how to access the whiteboard tool.
– Tool Training: If the tool is new to the team, conduct a brief training session or share tutorial videos.
– Provide Resources: Share any documents, links, or materials that will be referenced during the session ahead of time.
Step 5: Engage and Collaborate
Now, it’s time for the main event. Here are some tips to keep the session engaging and collaborative:
– Kick-off: Start with a brief icebreaker to warm up the team. It could be a quick round of “Two Truths and a Lie” or a fun question related to the session’s topic.
– Facilitate: The facilitator should guide the session, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and keeping the discussion on track.
– Use Visuals: Encourage team members to use visuals like drawings, icons, and colors to make the board more engaging and easier to understand.
– Interactive Features: Use the interactive features of the whiteboard tool, such as voting, timers, and comments, to keep everyone involved.
Step 6: Follow Up
After the session, ensure that the momentum continues by following up effectively:
– Recap: Summarize the main points, decisions, and action items. Share this recap with the team.
– Assign Tasks: Clearly assign any follow-up tasks and set deadlines.
– Feedback: Gather feedback on the session. What worked well? What could be improved? Use this feedback to make your next session even better.
Summary
Online whiteboard sessions can be incredibly productive and fun with the right preparation and approach. By choosing the right tool, setting clear objectives, preparing the space, equipping your team, engaging everyone during the session, and following up effectively, your small remote team can rock those online whiteboard collaborations.
GrowthSprint allows you to develop your business strategy using our online whiteboard for building winning business strategies.