managers guide to virtual teams

-Kimball Fisher & Mareen Fisher

Managers Guide To Virtual Teams

What is a Virtual Team?

• Team:A group of people who share a common purpose and who must collaborate to get their work donea

• Virtual Team:People who must work together, but who can’t frequently meet face-to-face because they:– Work in different locations– Work in different time schedules

Leadership

Result Catalyst

Facilitator

Barrier Buster

Business Analyzer

Coach

Living example

7 competencies of effective VT Leaders

Independent

Team Player

Self Starter

Self-Discipline

Good Results

Competent

Good Judgment

Interpersonal Skills

Forming a Virtual Team

Starting up a functional Virtual Team

Creating a Team

Charter

Role Clarification

Setting technology Protocols

Be honest

Give trust ,Get trust

Consistent & predictable interactions

Do what you say

Be Social with the team

Developing Trust in Virtual Team

Telephonic Collaboration

• Be certain that teleconference is well organized

• Assign meeting roles• Use people’s names• Remember that silence is not consent• Demonstrate good manners• Watch out for background sounds

Video conferencing

Whiteboards

Social Networking

Web conferencing

E-mail

Improving communication & feedback

Effective communication process

Empathic listening

Giving Feedback

Receiving Feedback

6-step problem solving process

Define the problem

Define success criteria

Determine root causes

Explore possible solutions

Select a solution

Implement the selected solution

Problem Solving ToolsForce Field Analysis

Weighted Criteria Analysis

Stop, Start, Continue Analysis

Creative Brainstorming

Reverse Brainstorming

Decision Making Methods

Autocratic Decision Making

Democratic Decision Making

Consensus Decision Making

Unanimous Decision Making

The Consensus ProcessClearly define the issue

Agree on a back-up process

Gather information

Listen to the views of others

Share your thoughts

Make a decision as a team

Implement and support the decision as a team

2 Types of Team Building

Relationship

• Focused on fostering trust and cooperation

• Helps people build social or interpersonal skills

Task-Effectiveness

• Focused on identifying and eliminating barriers to performance

• Helps people build technical or business skills

Team-Building ExamplesMy Favorite Job (Relationship)

Special Joint Activity (Relationship)

Two Truths and a Lie (Relationship)

Sociogram (Relationship)

Chartering (Task-Effectiveness)

Voice of the Customer (Task-Effectiveness)

Personal and Work Life Balance

Reserve a regular time each week for family and friends

Discuss times for special events with team members

Find a way to stay in touch when traveling

Involve friends/family in work related activities

Exercise regularly

Thank You !!!