The Dos and Don'ts of Virtual Collaboration

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LONDON, United Kingdom — With many global businesses now operating entirely through remote working, virtual meetings and instant messaging, BoF Careers shares best practices through its roundtable series during last week's #BoFLIVE programming with Melinda Stevens, editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Traveller UK and US.

Following her appointment as editor-in-chief of both publications, Stevens successfully united distinct teams divided by overseas distance working, finding efficiencies, nurturing team bonding and creating workflows through digital mediums.

Here, BoF breaks down five key takeaways from the editor-in-chief:

Adjust to Individuals’ Strengths and Weaknesses

“You have to work out where people's strengths and weaknesses are and what they respond to in life. Sometimes people don't want a private one-on-one chat — what they need is a proper meeting where we look at their work and validate it.”

Provide Clear Boundaries for Effective Communication

“Working remotely is giving each other enough space and giving each other enough support. You need to keep the communication tight and on point because otherwise, it starts getting flabby and loose, and the whole thing unravels to bits.”

Encourage Virtual Bonding Outside of Work

“When people are off-guard and there's less hierarchy, they are looser. I'm encouraging people to formulate WhatsApp groups. For example, parents started their own group to send memes or tips on working with kids screaming around the house. It allows them to let off steam.”

Focus on the Needs of the Wider Business

“In 2019, we had to move in an incredibly agile, open way and recognise where the vulnerabilities are, and make changes around that. We managed to do that pretty quickly and that, I think, is a question of not putting yourself in front of your business.”

Embrace the Reality of Remote Working

"Every time I had a meeting with Anna Wintour, my dog started barking but from the first time it happened, I pretended it wasn't mine, so now I have to go on with it. But in general, the scrappiness of remote working is a fact of it. In magazines we spend our whole time polishing everything so it's super shiny, but by getting rougher and readier, new ways of connecting and being creative come up through the cracks."