Abstract: A distributed collaboration interface interacts with a workflow system. A job of the workflow system comprises a series of tasks. Each task of a single job may be performed via the collaboration interface by multiple principals. When a first principal is performing a first task of the job through a first instance of the distributed collaboration interface, second principals performing second tasks of the job may view but may not modify the first task. Moreover, second instances of the distributed collaboration interface associated with the second principals update in real time to lock the first task from being modified by the second principals as soon as the first principal obtains control of the first task within the first instance of the collaboration interface.