As kids growing up, we all played that game:  broken telephone… 

The more people in the “telephone” chain, the more context and information is lost, and the further disconnected we get from the original message.  With each person in the link, it is inevitable that information is added, critical information is omitted, and somehow, the end result is vastly different from where it all started.

People focus on communication, communication tools, communication styles, but not enough emphasis is placed on the criticality of contextual communication in order to better – and more effectively – collaborate on tasks, projects and the like.

It’s expected.  It’s preached.  Tools are provided.  And in essence, they are vital components that determine an organisation’s ultimate success (or failure)… but the question begs:  Are organisations doing everything they can to achieve what we refer to as Hyper Contextual Collaboration?  

Most organisations rely on email as their main form of communication.  I have made no secret of the fact that I detest email and elaborate more on this in a recent blog titled: Ridding the world of email.  Besides the fact that it’s so time consuming, more often than not, it is missing key information and does not include the right people.

Experts will tell you that the hardest part of communicating effectively, is in knowing how to contextualise the content.  Contextual Communication provides the recipient with specific information so that assumptions are not drawn, as well as places meaning into the message.  More importantly, it provides a platform for a true dialogue to take place.

Organisations with a strong customer centricity focus are doing well when it comes to providing context when dealing with their customers.  However, are they applying the same focus on their most valuable assets, their staff and key stakeholders?  Are they doing enough to help make their people as efficient as possible, and in turn, maximising their ROI?

Equally important is the need to provide Contextual Collaboration tools to ensure that groups of people are moving in unison and in sync towards a collective goal. But what happens when a critical area of the business requires attention or an urgent action?  How many channels do employees have to navigate through to ensure they get access to all the relevant information and notify the right people timeously?

Data security then also becomes a major issue, and factors to consider include:

What if someone drops the ball and forgets to relay an important piece of information?  

Or when someone leaves an organisation – albeit suddenly or even foreseen?  

What happens when someone new steps in and is required to pick up where their predecessor left off?  

Assuming information hasn’t been lost, misplaced, archived or deleted in its entirety, how long does it take to provide factual, contextual information to sufficiently equip that individual with everything they need in order to carry out the task at hand? 

How many people have to stop what they’re doing, and lose momentum while they get the new kid on the block up to speed?  

Besides the potential cost implications of a project setback, what are the cost implications to an organisation to get back on track? 

Communication and collaboration has turned strategic because at the core of it, data is currency, time is money, and in some instances, could even be a matter of life and death.  If organisations were sufficiently equipped with tools that bring their People, Processes and Systems closer together to realise their Optimal Performance Zone, what would it mean to their bottom line?!  It’s simple:  It would result in a more connected, effective and accountable workforce that would ultimately deliver an increased ROI!

Have you considered how much inefficiency there is in your organisation, and what it would mean to your bottom line if the issue of Hyper Contextual Collaboration was addressed?

Here’s some more food for thought:

• 86% of employees and executives cite a lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures. (Source:  Salesforce)   

• 97% of employees and executives believe that a lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project. (Source: McKinsey)

• Knowledge workers spend an average of 14% of their time communicating and collaborating internally. Studies show that internal collaboration through social tools could help increase productivity by as much as 20 to 25%. (Source: McKinsey)

• The average worker spends an estimated 28% of their time managing (internal) email and an additional 20% of their time looking for internal information, or tracking down colleagues that can assist with specific tasks.  However, when the appropriate social media tools are adopted, this can reduce the time by as much as 35%, with additional value being realised through a faster, more efficient, and more collaborative approach. (Source: McKinsey)

It’s with these very basic principles in mind that we have spent the past 15 years building and developing AFFECTLI into a product that brings Contextual Communication and Contextual Collaboration together to provide an organisation with Hyper Contextual Collaboration tools. 

Gone are the days of the broken telephone; he-said-she-said; misplaced or omitted information, documents and the like…  We have worked tirelessly and systematically to deliver a tool that ensures that the right people get the right information at the right time – every time – with our fully auditable Hyper Contextual Collaboration (HCC) platform that drives accountability, and increases the Optimal Performance Zone (OPZ) of any organisation, resulting in a sustainable business with a competitive edge. 

If you are interested in improving the effectiveness of your organisation’s HCC and OPZ through the adoption of our proven toolkit, AFFECTLI, please feel free to reach out to us for a demo on get in touch. 

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As human beings, we are creatures of habits … there’s absolutely no getting around that! 

We wake up at the same time on weekdays, go through our morning routines of getting ready for work, then leave the house and head to the office – and in some cases, dropping kids off at school en route.  

Now that we are facing a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, our daily routines have summarily  been turfed out the window.  Life as we know it has been turned on its head and everything we have been “programmed” to do has been challenged… 

No more social contact.  No shaking hands or warm embraces.

No more venturing out to socialise with family and friends.

No school for kids.

No more freedom of movement unless it’s for essential errands.

Millions of people’s livelihoods (around the world) have been adversely affected, and many still hang in the balance.  But if you have been fortunate enough to enjoy continued employment, you have likely been tasked with working from home.  

It may seem like a novel idea at the time, but you will undoubtedly find yourself feeling a tad shell-shocked at the change of pace and lack of social engagement.

If you’re like me – the new kid on the block –  trying to adjust to working remotely, here are some handy tips that have helped me adapt to my “new normal”… 

1. SET UP A DEDICATED WORK SPACE.

Having a dedicated workspace will help shift your brain from “home” to “work” mode because it’s easy to get distracted by things around the house.  You’ll see things you’ve been meaning to attend to, washing that needs to get done, hear the kettle calling your name for another caffeine fix… the list of distractions is endless.

If you don’t have a spare room in your home to dedicate to a work space, create one in a quiet corner of the house where you can focus and avoid distractions.  Try to find an area that allows natural light and fresh air to fill the room. (Yes! It sounds a tad poetic, but it helps with concentration levels and feelings of confinement.)

Set up your laptop, cell phone charger, a notebook and essential stationery items you may need. A radio is also a great source of “companionship” during your work day as it helps to keep you connected to the outside world.

2. SET BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR FAMILY. 

This is probably the most challenging of adjustments to navigate – especially if you have kids… 

Ask your family to respect your dedicated work space, and to ONLY disturb you for anything that requires your urgent attention.  Give them reassurance that they will see you during your breaks, and enjoy quality time with you at the end of your work day.

If, like me, you’re a single parent, it will require a little planning and some creative thinking on your part (although Google & Pinterest are great sources of inspiration and ideas too!)… 

3. ESTABLISH A NEW DAILY ROUTINE.

Starting your work day in your pajamas is never a good idea… Know your work hours and work around those as you would if you were heading to the office for the day.

Continue your usual morning routine of getting ready for work (albeit in more comfortable clothing), have breakfast, then head off to your designated office space.

Work smart.  Not hard.  And avoid the temptation of getting “lost” in work until all hours of the night.  It’s important – now more than ever – to set aside quality time for yourself and your family at the end of each day.

4. SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH YOUR BOSS, COLLEAGUES AND/OR TEAM MEMBERS.

Communication is key, regardless of whether you’re working from an office or home, or working as a CEO or a waitress in a restaurant. If there are open lines of communication, you are able to manage expectations, control the narrative, and put everyone’s mind at ease that you’re all on the same page, and heading towards the same goal.

It’s ideal to have these meetings/discussions at the beginning of your work day, as it helps you get focused for the day ahead, and sets the tone for the remainder of the day.  Tasks and assignments are clearly laid out, so everyone knows what the expectations are, what they’re working on (and towards).

We live in an age of technology … use it to keep your colleagues updated whenever necessary – even if it’s by way of a simple WhatsApp message or Google Hangouts call.

5. TAKE BREAKS. 

Just as our electronic appliances like cell phones need to be recharged, so do our bodies and our brains.

Be diligent about taking at least one coffee (or tea) break in the morning and the afternoon, along with a short break for lunch.

Move away from your office space, and if possible, take a walk in the garden or sit outside in the fresh air for 5 minutes to recharge.  Gather your thoughts and mentally gear yourself up for the next task of the day.

It’s a myth that it takes only 21 days to form a new habit… A study published in the European Journal of Psychology found that whilst a new habit can be formed in anything from 18 to 254 days, it takes on average 66 days before a new behaviour becomes automatic.

It’s anybody’s guess how long it will take to flatten the curve of this monster virus, or how long it will take for us to resume our “normal” lives as we once knew it, but until then, be kind and patient with yourself while you adjust to your new work routine, and reach out to friends, family and colleagues for support.

For everyone that’s in lockdown, take comfort in knowing that we are all playing our respective parts in this war we are facing.  Please continue to exercise self-isolation, social distancing, washing our hands, and where possible, take a moment to thank, supporting and acknowledging our war’s frontline army… the men and women working tirelessly to treat the sick, and those working behind the scenes to keep us safe, fed, fueled and supported during this crisis. 

From our Mi-C3 family to yours … Stay safe! 

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