Digital Collaboration is when professionals work together by leveraging online/digital mediums such as a SaaS platform. Rather than working together using traditional collaborative methods, they can rely on digital tools to address and communicate their collaborative needs in order to fulfill them. Digital collaboration allows professionals to collaborate with other professionals in their departments or other departments. 

Digital Collaboration has become more popular now than ever. The rise of the pandemic taught businesses that the only way to stay afloat with their business operations is by using digital collaboration tools to stay in the game. During the pandemic, most businesses (especially IT-based businesses) were able to work effectively by utilizing digital collaboration tools.

New-age organizations are now adopting digital collaboration to supplement their daily operations. Also, remotely-operating organizations are more likely to practice digital collaboration by using video conferencing platforms and managing project requirements by using project management tools.

Key Skills Required To Become an Efficient Digital Collaborator

To become a digital collaborator, you will likely need to develop a range of skills, including:

• Communication: The ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, including the use of digital tools such as email, instant messaging, and video conferencing. The only con of the digital workplace is that you cannot determine the body language and facial expressions of a person. Since both of these things are usually kept in consideration before molding your conversation, so, in digital communication, you might find it challenging to effectively communicate with your coworkers. It is very essential that you possess absolute communication skills. In order to practice effective communication, you can start by building trust by being transparent and consistent. Clearly articulating or stating what you expect and mean will help you to send a clear message to your coworkers and allow them to fulfill your requirements. 

• Technical skills: Digital Collaboration is all about working together remotely using digital tools such as project management tools, cloud-based solutions, video conferencing platforms, emails, etc. Therefore you need sound knowledge to use a wide range of tools and technologies. When you are working in a digital setting, it is possible that your work gets disrupted due to technical issues such as poor internet connection, software glitches, and hardware malfunctions, therefore you must be proficient in technical troubleshooting. Having good technical knowledge and skills will allow you to fix these problems quickly and efficiently. Remember that Technical skills is one of the most important skills required to become a digital collaborator.

• Problem-solving: While working in a digital environment, you might face various types of problems such as communication gaps (due to various communicating styles and approaches), technical mishaps, tight deadlines and resource constraints, conflicts, etc. So, being a problem solver and critical thinker will help you in the long run. Having problem-solving skills and a positive approach will allow you to work effectively and efficiently in a digital collaborative environment.

• Adaptability: When you work in a digital collaboration setup, you might have to adapt to the changing technological needs of various projects. Also, digital collaboration is characterized by uncertainty which might involve working from different work environments (such as from an office, home, a coffee shop, coworking space, etc.) and working with people who have different communication styles, working styles, etc. And sometimes, you might have to shift your focus from one project to another based on priority. The ability to adapt to new tools and technologies quickly, as well as the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, and constantly changing digital environment, will help you to get through. 

• Teamwork: The word “Digital Collaboration” itself tells that it requires collaborating with team members using digital means. Effective teamwork is essential for digital collaboration to achieve common goals and produce high-quality work. Teamwork is not only about working with a team, it’s more about knowing the strengths and expertise of each of your team members and leveraging them accordingly to achieve the desired goal. When you know your team members well and communicate with them properly, you will be able to show great teamwork and drive amazing results.

Conclusion

The pandemic accelerated digital collaboration practices and gave a chance to traditionally operating organizations to transform their ways of interacting with their employees, customers/clients, and stakeholders. 

So, “Digital Skills” and “Collaborative Skills” are most crucial for your professional growth. It will help you to communicate, collaborate, create, and share information with other team members and allow you to solve any problem that you may come across during your work. 

To become a digital collaborator, you will have to strengthen the above-mentioned skills and implement these while working with other team members.