BEYOND A BOUNDARY

Managing Virtual Teams

The What of Virtual Teams

The Why of Virtual Teams

The How of Virtual Teams

Session Outline

The What of Virtual Teams

Virtual Teams are groups of people that move towards a single purpose albeit being separated by geographical and organisational boundaries, connected by trust, bonded by concern and linked by technology

They could be permanent or temporary depending on the nature of the purpose

Mobile work force of 20 million and counting

Source of competitive advantageGeographically dispersed talent pool

Organisationally dispersed talent pool

Cost reduction

Cost arbitrage

The Why of Virtual Teams

Enabling environmentWork that can be divided into packs and put back together

Global fibre optic connectivity

Communication and coordination tools

PrimerPremised on shared objectives

Shared experiences for empathy

Verbal component of a face-to-face conversation is less than 35% and (that) over 65% of communication is done non-verbally Albert Mehrabian

Step over the obstacles

Practices and technology enable

The How of Virtual Teams

Practices

Replicating the elements of teams that share the same spaceReinforce the objectives create sense of common purpose

Delegate and share a road map know how the part contributes to the whole

Clarify and render assistance share skill, knowledge and information

Review, supervise and mentor keep things on track

Interact on life and ideas that are non work building trust and togetherness

Reinforce the objective

Teams function well when the objective is clear to all

The objectives are usually multiple, but primarily of three kindsClient satisfaction

Skill acquisition and self efficacy

Financial returns

Prototype, discuss, state

Articulate in a clear concise form

Use every tool possibleWebEx, Redmine, Facebook, Skype, Email Signatures and Discussion Boards

Delegate and share a road map

Assess competencies delegate

Consult before you delegate

Delegate in group meetings

Use Google Hangout

Clarify, clarify and then clarify again

Create a road mapSpreadsheet

Trello

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Clarify and render assistance

No signals around and no one is reading you

Be proactive

Seek out, probe and assist

Tools you could useTeam Viewer, Skype Screen Share, Google Hangout, Touchscreen devices(?)

Review, Supervise and Mentor

Keep the roadmap in sight, always

Review against the roadmap (Project Tracker has Gantt charts)

Meet in the morning, meet in the evening; formally

Chat in between, talk in between, stay connected

Replan quickly; it is within your responsibilities and authority

When there is a change in decision, discuss with all who were part of the earlier decision making process

Google Hangout, Skype Chat Groups, Email

Interact on life and ideas outside work

Feel free to talk about the weather on skype

Use emoticons, they are very useful

Lighten up meetings where possible

Pick up the phone and call

Organise shared viewing of interesting things to know

Some pointers

Set up meetings clearly

Speak slowly

Dont interrupt, establish protocol

Listen to understand

Speak as though remote participants are in the room

Dont use a computer or text message during meetings

Chat record is good but minute meetings

Leave time for relationship building

Genuinely recognise efforts of colleagues

Use video conferecing wherever possible

Meet up once in a while

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