One of the most powerful aspects of telecommuting or working virtually is that, whether you are an individual contributor or a leader, you have more choice about how you show up to your colleagues. Unless your laptop camera is very high quality resolution, people meeting with you virtually probably won’t notice the bags under your…
Can’t we just get to work? Why do we have to spend time getting all touchy-feely about how we will work together? If you lead or assist virtual teams of engineers, programmers, scientists, or technical experts, you have probably heard similar comments. The most effective virtual teams have a clear agreement—often called a charter—that spells…
Because of the diversity of ideas and perspectives, virtual teams are the ideal forum to gather best practices and implement changes across geographical and organizational boundaries. Unfortunately, time zone challenges and large group meetings with little time for involvement mean most virtual teams do not live up to their potential. How do you as a…
If you really want to pay better attention to what is going on in your team, stop running your own virtual meetings. It’s almost impossible to run a meeting, manage an agenda, present ideas, and also pay attention to group dynamics. Here’s why: 1. If you create the agenda, you have a vested interest in pushing…
“Since you are interested in virtual work, let me show you our video conferencing capability.” The room was impressive. The huge wall screens provided a full view of participants at tables in other locations. The ceiling-mounted microphones and speakers and the large, locked cabinet of sophisticated controls showed the effort and expense invested in this…
When communication happens primarily through technology, as it does with virtual teams and remote employees, trusting relationships take longer to develop. Effective one-on-one meetings are a powerful tool to keep employees motivated and positive. Here are four tips to make your one-on-ones as effective as possible. Let the direct report choose the best time. As…
This is a great time of year to celebrate holidays around the world, commemorate team accomplishments, or just take time to build relationships for the year ahead. When people work together face to face, celebrating can be spontaneous. Without prompting, someone brings in snacks or puts up decorations to celebrate a holiday, group achievement, or…
Most virtual teams are organized for cut and paste work, or what I like to call quilting. Each team member creates a part of the project—sometimes simultaneously, sometimes sequentially—and the parts are sewn together. Each person operates independently, performance evaluations are based solely on individual work, and meetings are opportunities to share progress reports. This…
I was asked to work with a virtual team in the field of drug development at a major pharmaceutical firm. The team members were missing project timelines and overspending their budget. The team included top performers from many disciplines and represented 12 countries in Asia, America, Europe, and Africa. When I observed the team calls,…
Working from home can improve employee productivity and satisfaction and provide substantial cost savings for businesses. But is it right for everyone? Not necessarily. Even organizations with the most successful work from home programs confirm that some individuals work better in an office environment than they do from a home office. What about you? Here…