How platforms like Miro and Mural can enable team creativity.
Team interactions have shifted tremendously in the past year. Much of our collaboration space has moved online, and this has impacted on both the everyday operations of teams around the world, as well as their capacity to innovate and create.
Professionals who previously relied on physical tools such as flipcharts, whiteboards, and post its to chart their ideas, visualise problems, strategise, or sketch solutions have had to now seek digital alternatives which can serve the same function.
Platforms such as Miro and Mural have emerged to offer teams a virtual space in which to interact, ideate, and innovate. These digital whiteboards provide a space in which a team can collaborate simultaneously which allows for peer review, feedback, ideation and mapping activities to occur online.
At Contemporary Empathy, we frequently use these whiteboards for creative problem solving as the digital post it notes replicate the physical resources that enable ideation. The templates built into the platforms are extensive and range from business model canvases to team warm up games to customer journey maps.
A few important things to remember:
Tools such as these help teams, they do not make teams. A common challenge with remote working is the assumption or hope that new software can solve all team problems. High performing teams need to have a strong foundation of trust, diversity, respect, and communication skills before they can turn to tools for help.
The whiteboards themselves will only aid teamwork if everyone can learn to use them correctly. This means that leaders should help employees or colleagues with software tutorials, trials, and ongoing support.
It is important to select the tools and templates most relevant for your specific team and purpose. There are so many digital solutions out there that it can feel overwhelming and simultaneously tempting to try and use multiple different ones. Opt for a select few that can streamline your specific work, and preferably be easily integrated into existing operations.
Use the tools to build and enhance your own individual professional skills. With platforms such as Miro and Mural offering templates you may have never seen before, there is the potential to try out new ways of working too and develop your digital abilities.
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