101: VIRTUAL TEAMS
Managing virtual team members in different locales is becoming more and more common for companies which, thanks to the Internet, are no longer restricted in outsourcing to top talent. There are things to consider to lead a virtual team successfully (and it goes beyond just remembering time zones). Here are three ways to help your virtual team be as effective as possible:
Encourage informal, social learning about teammates, even across the miles. A quick, three-question interview each week that you send to other members of the team is a great way to get this done. “We've worked with teams that created online team bios so that everyone knew their skill set, educational background, special interests, hobbies, etc.,” said Jennell Evans in an article at PsychologyToday.com.
Establish best practices for communication. These skills may differ due to work habits, cultural differences, age or other factors. Beth Knuppel, in an article at CEO.com, recommends setting up a guide to minimize misunderstandings. This guide should lay out hours employees are expected to be online or reachable; how frequently employees should check in with management; and best practices for email etiquette to reduce the number of irrelevant emails team members receive, Knuppel writes.
Don't just jump right into work when a new team member comes aboard. An article by Keith Ferrazzi at Harvard Business Review suggests taking the advice of experts who ask new hires to give virtual tours of their workspaces to faraway colleagues. “This allows colleagues to form mental images of one another when they're later communicating,” he writes. Another way to promote unity is to get personal first, take on business later. “Try taking five minutes at the beginning of conference calls for everyone to share a recent professional success or some personal news,” Ferrazzi writes.
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