Teamwork tools

Remote work succeeds when the whole team can explain an idea, review a mock-up, and share the right password without waiting for a meeting invite. The tools below remove distance as a friction point so projects roll forward even when time-zones do not overlap.

I lean on three platforms in nearly every engagement: Loom for quick screen walkthroughs, Figma for real-time design and whiteboarding, and LastPass for secure credential sharing. Slack and Notion can sit around the edges, but the trio above handles the day-to-day of working together.

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Async video and screen recording

Teams spread across continents rarely share the same calendar slots. A recorder that turns your screen and voice into a link saves the ritual of booking a call. Look for instant cloud upload, viewer analytics, and password-protected links so clients can watch updates when it suits them.

Real-time visual collaboration

Design reviews, journey maps, and rough wireframes all benefit from live cursors and shared canvases. A tool that supports vector editing, comments, and quick prototype links avoids the “final-final-v3” file spiral. Check how well it handles heavy images and whether guests can comment without a paid seat.

Secure credential sharing

Growth stacks balloon to dozens of logins—ad platforms, analytics, landing-page builders. A password manager that stores and autofills credentials, enforces two-factor authentication, and revokes access when a freelancer rolls off the project is non-negotiable. Make sure it logs who accessed what and supports shared folders tied to role, not person.

Version history and file recovery

When five people edit the same asset, mistakes will happen. Automatic versioning lets you rewind a Figma frame or restore yesterday’s Loom clip without raising a support ticket. Confirm the retention limits on the plan you choose; cheaper tiers sometimes trim history after thirty days.

Integrations and notifications

Status updates should flow into Slack or e-mail by default. Loom comments, Figma design approvals, and LastPass shared-folder invites need to push alerts where the team already lives. Native integrations beat webhooks here, as they preserve context and cut setup time.

Guest access and permissions

Agencies and in-house teams often bring in contractors for a sprint. A clean permission model lets you invite guests to specific files or folders without exposing the whole workspace. Check whether the platform charges for viewers, how temporary access works, and whether you can transfer file ownership when someone leaves.

Cross-platform performance

Mobile, tablet, and low-power laptops must still load boards and videos quickly. Test large Figma files on a mid-range machine, or a Loom recording on limited bandwidth, to ensure friction stays low for every stakeholder.

These features keep collaboration smooth, secure, and quick—exactly what a growth team needs when juggling campaigns across time-zones and tools.

Why do hybrid teams need dedicated collaboration tools?

When half the team sits in the office and half dials in, outdated habits surface fast—screens get aimed at laptops, meeting notes vanish, and nobody remembers who owns the next step. A shared whiteboard such as Miro keeps every diagram in one place and lets remote colleagues sketch in real time. Paired with Loom recordings for quick context, decisions stay visible and new joiners catch up without booking another status call.

How does asynchronous video improve remote work?

Time-zone gaps turn short questions into 24-hour delays. I record a two-minute Loom, walk through the screen, and drop the link in chat. Teammates watch when they wake, respond with timestamped comments, and we avoid scheduling yet another call. The thread stays linked to the project, so future reviewers see exactly what was agreed and why.

What solves design feedback across locations?

Figma’s multiplayer editing means everyone—from product to marketing—can point at the same pixel without version-control headaches. Comments sit on the frame, replies resolve them, and the history panel shows who changed what. No more “final_v7” files or screenshots pasted in chat. The design team iterates faster, and reviewers see progress without pinging designers for new links.

How do we keep passwords secure in a distributed setup?

Shared logins multiply when contractors and agencies join a project. LastPass stores credentials in encrypted folders, autofills them, and lets me revoke access with one click when someone rolls off. It also enforces two-factor authentication, which stops the common “shared spreadsheet of passwords” risk dead in its tracks.

What is the minimum viable stack for async collaboration?

I start with four pieces: a real-time whiteboard (Miro) for brainstorming, a design hub (Figma) for assets, an async video tool (Loom) for quick walkthroughs, and a password manager (LastPass) for secure login sharing. Anything beyond that must replace one of these or automate a clear pain point; otherwise it adds more log-ins than value.

Hybrid, remote, or fully async—each arrangement benefits from the same principle: keep context attached to the work and make updates available on demand. When diagrams, demos, and credentials live where everyone can find them, distance stops being a blocker and the pace of execution stays high.