Author

Dr. Molly Sands

Head of the Teamwork Lab

Dr. Molly Sands is the head of the Teamwork Lab, which designs evidence-based practices for high-performing teams. She’s passionate about using technology to make it easier for people to do meaningful work together. Prior to Atlassian, Molly held leadership positions at Humu and Chadwick Martin Bailey. Her research has been published in top academic journals and featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and a TED talk with over six million views.

Article in Communication
How to avoid “emotional overhead” at work (hint: emojis are 👍 )

Data shows workers waste up to 40 hours a year due to confusing emails and chats.

Article in Productivity
To-do list trickledown: How to stay organized and keep your team on track

You’ve settled into your workspace, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, ready to dive into the strategic plan your boss eagerly awaits. But just as you begin – Ping. A Slack message from your finance partner: “Don’t forget to send budget requests by EOD.” You barely process this before – Ping. An email from your dentist’s office reminding […]

Article in Productivity
Happy circle-back season, to those who celebrate

Mark your calendar: we’re declaring December 17th World Circle Back Day. Here’s how to get through it with your sanity intact.

Article in Productivity
Stop talking about work – do work together instead

Escape the meeting trap and roll up your sleeves to actually get sh!t done.

Article in AI
AI Collaboration Report: “Using” AI is not enough – here’s what your organization is missing

Stop “using” AI. Start collaborating with it. Our latest research from Atlassian’s Teamwork Lab shows that when it comes to getting the most out of working with AI, mindset matters far more than adoption – and is key to maturity. Our data reveals two primary groups of people who engage with AI at work: one […]

Article in Productivity
Trouble making time for work that matters? Try the $10 Game

This simple game shifts your team’s focus from busy work to breakthrough work.

Article in Communication
New research: Write more clearly and become a super communicator

How many times have you read an email or project brief and thought, “Wait, what did that say?” or worse, stopped reading partway through and moved on to the next task? Ineffective written communication is all too common across teams and organizations, and its impact is substantial. More than a third of the workforce loses […]

Article in Distributed Work
Atlassian’s distributed work glossary

A comprehensive list of common terms we use to talk about modern teams and they ways they work.

Article in Teamwork
New Research: Try this ritual to spark joy at work

Finally, a research-backed approach to being silly with your teammates.

Article in Productivity
New research: How to make quality decisions quickly

Stop deciding by committee and make the call.

Article in Loom Case Study
How Atlassian Teams Saved 5,000 Hours of Meeting Time in Two Weeks

The challenge was simple: replace one meeting with a Loom video by the end of the month.  Our goal was to nudge Atlassians to rethink the default ways they collaborate, especially in a distributed work environment where teams work across multiple time zones. 

Article in Productivity
How Atlassian teams saved 5,000 hours of meeting time in two weeks

Atlassians have been using Loom since 2016 – well before our companies joined forces in 2023. But as a 15,000-plus person company, there’s always room to build new teamwork habits and reduce unnecessary meetings. In fact, our research found that 78% of Fortune 500 knowledge workers surveyed say it’s challenging to complete all of their work and attend all of their […]

Article in Distributed Work
New research: better meetings start with a page

How to facilitate meetings that are worth everyone’s time and help you accomplish your goals.

Article in Productivity
Meeting overload is real – here’s what to do about it

How to de-clutter your calendar and regain control of your workday

Article in Loom collaboration
New research: Boost team connection (without scheduling another meeting)

How managers can use Loom to boost connection, recognition, and goal clarity within their teams.

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