Flexible working models only work if everyone communicates well with each other. And “good” explicitly does not mean “constantly” and “everything that goes through your head at any given moment”. Quality definitely beats quantity. Clear rules help to bring the varying information and communication needs to a common denominator. At Tandemploy we use slack as the main channel for teamwork. Depending on the task and the skills required, the team members come together in thematic slack channels. Some channels – for example in marketing – are permanent, others dissolve after the end of the project. For channels with many members, certain rules apply, such as a “GIF-free zone” or a “thread policy”, in order to bundle topics in the channel and maintain clarity. Small icons next to a person’s name serve as status updates. For example, a burger next to Jana’s name means “Lunchtime – please try again later”?, the Sick Emoji ? means: “Out due to illness”.

By the way: One channel that should not be underestimated is the “Random” channel. Here there is room for exchanges outside of the work context. Let the cat videos role! ?

Work hacks?

Work Hacks are simple, yet original, methods that can be implemented quickly and directly. They improve collaboration and results in the work context.

In this series we will introduce tried and tested Work Hacks that will effectively improve collaboration.