We can all list a small but consistent issue at work that throws off our groove.

This includes everything from misplacing notes, waiting on email responses for minor inquiries or forgetting which tasks are dependent on others. While none of them are a massive problem by themselves, these blockers can add up over time. And when you apply those issues to a team, then everyone can feel the slowdown.

Collaboration tools aim to smooth out challenges that hinder workflow at every level by facilitating rapid communication and creating clear roadmaps for a project's progress. It's easy to find one-off software solutions to organize your team's goals and promote rapid communication.

But what types of collaboration tools are there? Is there a correct way to decide on collaboration tools? What are the best collaboration tools for your business?

The collaboration space is bustling, and making sense of the noise can get in the way of finding solutions that guide your team to a more organized and communicative future. A great place to start is reframing the way we think about collaboration tools, including their functions and their intended uses.