challengesof virtual teamwork 2minute

© ZOOM Collaborate

A virtual team is a group of two or more people…

What is a Virtual Team?

…who work in concert but in different locations to achieve a shared goal.

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The Benefits of Virtual Teams

Access a wider pool of talent.

Physical presence in global markets.

Diversity of thinking.

Boost productivity.

Save time and money.


Virtual Teams Often Fail

More than 3/4 of global teams fail.*

from: Building an Effective Global Business Team, MIT Sloan Management Review

≠Why?

Take a Guess: Your estimate for the percentage of global teams that fail

* defined as: not meeting their goals.


Virtual teams face unique challenges

A

B

C

D


A Staying Aligned

Sometimes or often, team members…

Aren’t clear about team goals and priorities.

Are on so many teams that they can’t devote enough time to each.

Display “win-lose” attitudes and behaviors.

Lose track of who’s responsible for what or default to managing their own “to do” lists.


Without face-to-face contact, sometimes or often, team members don’t…

Know much about each other – home or work life.

Feel comfortable saying what’s on our minds.

Ask for or give direct feedback.

Form positive, collegial bonds.

B Building Rapport and Trust


Sometimes or often, we:

Depend on e-mail for communication, even though our messages can be misunderstood.

Don’t share relevant information or involve each other other in decisions that affect us.

Have unproductive and tiresome meetings.

Simply check out.

C Communication and Engagement


Sometimes or often, we…

Can’t schedule meetings in a timely fashion.

Don’t understand what others are saying.

Have difficulty making ourselves understood.

Worry that we may say the wrong thing.

D Different Cultures and Time Zones


What’s the Answer?How can I help my

virtual employees work better as a team?


Best Practices for Leading Remote Teams

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2

3

5

4

VIRTUAL VELCRO

© ZOOM Collaborate

Help Team Members Get to know each other

and stay connected.

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Best Practice #1

STAYING ALIGNED

BUILDING RAPPORT & TRUST

WORKING ACROSS CULTURES & TIME ZONES

COMMUNICATION &

ENGAGEMENT

1 2

3

5

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© ZOOM Collaborate

At work. At home.

On the path of life.

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Get to know each other and stay connected. 1


Professional Background and Experiences1Where team members are located and who they’re networked with

Virtual team members’ professional background and experience

Other roles that teammates have played and people they’ve worked with


Personal Background and Experiences1


1Get to know each other and stay connected.

For emotional well-being, our hearts need a dose of authentic human connection each day.


Best Practice #2

STAYING ALIGNED



COMMUNICATION &

ENGAGEMENT

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5

4

Bring your common

purpose to life.


and stay connected.

© ZOOM Collaborate

In the rush of daily activity, and the great distances between us, we sometimes forget that…

Purpose is the reason for your existence as a team; what you’re here to do; your mission.

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Common Purpose

we’re inextricably tied together.

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© ZOOM Collaborate

It’s the right thing

to do

It makes sense

It’s meaningful

to me

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Bring your team’s common purpose to life.2


Best Practice #3

STAYING ALIGNED



COMMUNICATION &

ENGAGEMENT

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4Build and abide by operating

agreements.

Bring your common

purpose to life.


and stay connected.


Operating Agreements

A set of agreed-upon behaviors…based on mutual expectations… that define how to work together.

Types of Agreements

• Meeting protocols

• How to make decisions

• Roles and responsibilities

• How to communicate and share Information

• Individual, team & cultural courtesies

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Best Practice #4

STAYING ALIGNED



COMMUNICATION &

ENGAGEMENT

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Build and abide by operating

agreements.

Meet onlineand share a

common visual workspace.

Bring your common

purpose to life.


and stay connected.


Common Visual Workspace4Use GTM to meet, connect and collaborate.

What to Share:• PowerPoint Presentations, with

interactive capability• Applications, with interactive capability

(e.g.,: Word Docs) • Video• Annotations on a Whiteboard• Podio

The place where online meeting attendees focus their attention together.

It’s not just for presentations!


Best Practice #5

STAYING ALIGNED



COMMUNICATION &

ENGAGEMENT

5Build and abide by operating

agreements.

Meet online and share a

common visual workspace.

Reveal your thinking and ask

for others’ perspectives.

Bring your common

purpose to life.


and stay connected.


Virtual Velcro: Reveal Your Thinking

People can feel: Misunderstood

Confused

Lost

Disconnected

In conflict

When we use electronic technology – asynchronous or real-time –communication can go awry.

In face-to-face environments, behavior cues and informal interactions help us understand how others operate.

When working remotely, being explicit and revealing your thinking helps replace those cues and connections.

VIRTUAL VELCRO

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challengesof virtual teamwork 2minute

Technology

help team members

team members dont

team goals

teams common purpose

team members arent clear

team cultural courtesies

work life

benefits of virtual