International Association of Teamwork Facilitators

Social Spreadsheeting -- an effective tool for collaborating using Google's free apps

Google's free online apps (word processing, spread sheet, and more) offer you and your team the opportunity to collaborate quickly and easily.

CLICK HERE to read an interesting description on "Social Spreadsheeting" at the Google Docs blog.

On a related note, HERE is how a classroom teacher uses Google Docs to promote collaboration in the classroom.

Mind Mapping Tool -- use in designing your teambuilding training event and for collaboration

When I set out to design a teambuilding training event I start by creating a "Mind Map".

New to Mind Maps?  Here's what Wikipedia has to say on the subject

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.

Read the full Wikipedia article describing Mind Maps HERE

Master coach Andrea Lee points us to a great online Mind Mapping tool here:  http://www.bubbl.us/

5 ways to use Mind Maps with your team:

1. Use a Mind Map in a team brainstorming session to design your next staff retreat.
2. Read Covey's "The Speed of Trust" as a team and then Mind Map the lessons from the book that are pertinent to your team and how you will APPLY those lessons.
3. Produce a staff training manual as a Mind Map.
4. Get clear on your personal mission, values, standards using a Mind Map.
5. Train your staff how to use Mind Maps and then, when it's time for a one-on-one meeting, have the staff person create a Mind Map of what they want to discuss / accomplish and bring it to the meeting.

New Collaboration Tool: Writely

Do you work with others on projects such as program and training designs, workshop handouts, pre-event questionnaires, pamphlets, books, etc.?  If yes, then you need to know about a product called Writely.

Writely is a web based word processor.  With Writely you can:

• Share documents instantly & collaborate real-time.
• Pick exactly who can access your documents.
• Edit your documents from anywhere.
• Nothing to download -- your browser is all you need.
• Store your documents securely online.

My sources tell me Google just purchased the company and the product.  It looks like this is one of many anticipated moves on Google's part to provide an entire suite of office software.  And, amazingly, it's free!