Consider these two examples:
1. A virtual team is tasked with exploring why turnover is so high in their program. There are team members across all five continents, and the Director is expecting a formal report by the end of the quarter. In addition to their membership in this special committee, the team members are also part of other matrix management structures. The "turnover" team is self-sufficient and needs to work through identifying what the six factors of high performing teams looks like for them (their common vision, roles, goals and how they are measured, team practices, etc)
In the second example, two team members are working in the same geographic area, while other team members are based several time zones away. The two team members have started to come together physically to link into the team meetings as they find it's also a good way to compare notes about their projects and also share resources. This partnership has incorporated some of the best practices of collaboration as they do realize that their "sum is greater than their parts".
What are your best practices of collaboration?
In the virtual space we want to make sure we are taking time to create intentional partnerships, we are identifying common ground, and we are naming our assumptions and looking to work across differences. For those that have a copy of my book - Effective Virtual Conversations - check out Chapter 12 - Partnering, Co-Facilitation and Creating a Culture of Effective Virtual Conversation.
As I write in the book, some of the skills we leverage are trust, candor, connection, flexibility/adaptability, self-awareness, working across differences, relationship development, along with others.
What makes collaboration work for you?
Have a great start to you week,
Jennifer
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
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Phone: (416)996-8326
Looking to enhance your virtual conversations - Conference calls? Webinars? Virtual coaching work? Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!