Managing Virtual Teams
Do you manage a virtual team? Do you have many different people from different parts of the country/world working on a project together? If you are then we recognise it can be a tough task to manage a team in this way.
It is believed that as the economy gets leaner, more organisations will want people to spend less time getting to and from an office base or spending time travelling to different sites charging expenses. People may be more inclined to work from home especially if they are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
So from a people management perspective here are our top tips to managing virtual teams:
- Create Team Goals - Ensure that all parties are clear of what they are expected to contribute to the overall game plan.
- Craft Agreed Ground Rules - A bit old hat, but always works a treat!
- Obtain the right technology - The initial investment of fast access internet, webcams and collaborative software such as sharepoint is expensive but can be highly beneficial from a team effectiveness perspective.
- Look for opportunities to socialize - Virtual teams don’t usually have the opportunity to interact with each other, so it is more important for the manager to develop rapport.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate - People can start to feel isolated if they do not receive regular communications. Ensure you use a variety of methods to suit the individual.
- Be extra diligent in workload management - Be precise and explicit in assigning work to the virtual team members. You also need to ensure that work is completed on time.
- Give people shorter assignments - This is not the time to give people long assignments and hope that they are completed by the deadline. Where possible give shorter timeframes to ensure completion.
- Maximise meeting time - Ensure that when you are together that the time is used effectively. Ensure that agendas are created and followed, minutes are taken and then followed up.
- Consider different learning opportunities - Why not try e-learning or pod casts for those people who do not have immediate access to coaching from you their manager.
Remember that you don’t need to worry if one of your team takes their pet to the vets during the working day or have to go and occasionally pick up their child from school. What really matters is that they are achieving their goals. You need to measure their output and performance manage on that basis.
Article written by
Alyson Pellowe: Managing Consultant
