This fall I have been speaking a lot on virtual and remote team success, given the release of my most recent book (Effective Virtual Conversations) and the expanding interest in this topic in many industries. It's also more likely that virtual team leaders may be tasked with their own team's development. A 2016 study by R3 found that only 22% of virtual teams participated in virtual team development. Take a look at this survey here.
Here's a past post I thought many of you would be interested in - 4 Areas for Virtual and Remote Teams to Focus On. While these are not the only 4 things to explore and shore up with your team, they are four very important areas.
Take a look at what I wrote back in #Teams365 #1161:
Virtual and remote teams continue to spring up for a variety of reasons whether it's a project team that is weaving together skills and expertise from across geographic locations, or whether it's a global team, it's important to invest in the development of virtual teams just like we do for in-person teams. This post explores four separate areas you may want to put more attention around.
Clear goals - Goals create both focus and alignment. In a virtual team, it is important to help the team look at things from both the individual and the team level. Make sure to stimulate conversation/focus on the individual level and also the team level around questions such as
What are your key priorities?
How does each team member connect into the larger interface of the team?
What is the overlap or gaps between individual and team goals?
What resources are needed?
In terms of sequencing, what needs to be completed first before another person can start?
Being clear on what success looks like and what is necessary to achieve this (resources, feedback loops, reporting structures)
Roles and responsibilities – In virtual teams it is important to spend time being crystal clear and granular in terms of what the roles and responsibilities of each team member are. Clarify issues such as:
how their work intersects with others.
Who they report to,
Who they receive feedback from and when.
Being detailed on this helps to clarify, and bust, assumptions which may be held.
Matrix relationships – It is likely that the employee will have a series of matrix relationships in some instances, especially if they are global. Being clear on what the reporting structures are and how and when issues should be flagged with each leader. Being intentional around the feedback loops are also important.
Creating Connection - In virtual teams it is very easy to overlook the fundamentals like creating connection across team members. In future posts we will explore different approaches and activities to create connection across the team. For now, take a look at these past posts which address the issue of creating connection.
Where are you as a team in all four areas? Take note of what needs attention.
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer
Here's a past post I thought many of you would be interested in - 4 Areas for Virtual and Remote Teams to Focus On. While these are not the only 4 things to explore and shore up with your team, they are four very important areas.
Take a look at what I wrote back in #Teams365 #1161:
Virtual and remote teams continue to spring up for a variety of reasons whether it's a project team that is weaving together skills and expertise from across geographic locations, or whether it's a global team, it's important to invest in the development of virtual teams just like we do for in-person teams. This post explores four separate areas you may want to put more attention around.
Clear goals - Goals create both focus and alignment. In a virtual team, it is important to help the team look at things from both the individual and the team level. Make sure to stimulate conversation/focus on the individual level and also the team level around questions such as
What are your key priorities?
How does each team member connect into the larger interface of the team?
What is the overlap or gaps between individual and team goals?
What resources are needed?
In terms of sequencing, what needs to be completed first before another person can start?
Being clear on what success looks like and what is necessary to achieve this (resources, feedback loops, reporting structures)
Roles and responsibilities – In virtual teams it is important to spend time being crystal clear and granular in terms of what the roles and responsibilities of each team member are. Clarify issues such as:
how their work intersects with others.
Who they report to,
Who they receive feedback from and when.
Being detailed on this helps to clarify, and bust, assumptions which may be held.
Matrix relationships – It is likely that the employee will have a series of matrix relationships in some instances, especially if they are global. Being clear on what the reporting structures are and how and when issues should be flagged with each leader. Being intentional around the feedback loops are also important.
Creating Connection - In virtual teams it is very easy to overlook the fundamentals like creating connection across team members. In future posts we will explore different approaches and activities to create connection across the team. For now, take a look at these past posts which address the issue of creating connection.
Where are you as a team in all four areas? Take note of what needs attention.
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!
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