ThatManager.com Blog
Managing a Virtual Team
The Internet has enabled companies to reduce cost and assemble teams of employees from all over the globe. Communication tools get more advanced each day and make it possible for virtual teams to operate seemlessly. As a manager in a multinational organization, you are likely to be called upon to manage employees globally. If you are used to a hands-on management style with employees in the same building with you, the methods you have used in the past may not be as effective in the future with your virtual team.
There are many benefits to virtual teams including diversity of perspectives, large member selection pool, extended hours of productivity, reduced transportation costs, and reduced office location costs. However, new challenges arise with virtual teams including difficulty in performance monitoring, team member isolation, technology issues and interruptions, and a lack of socialization among team members. Global virtual teams also must deal with geographic, cultural, and timezone issues.
Managing a Virtual Team
Understanding how to take advantage of the benefits of a virtual team and minimizing the difficulties will be a considerable portion of your job managing a virtual team. Your first goal is to create a team environment and teamwork without having a team physically located near one another.
A Common Goal
The first step in creating the team environment is to establish a common goal for the team. Studies have shown that when individuals share a common goal, they will bond more quickly than if they are just working together on tasks. The common goal should be a long term one which will consist of many short term goals to achieve. The short term goals are important to let the team members feel successful as they are ...
Read More >>Email This Post | Add to: 
Digg ~ 
Del.icio.us ~ 
Reddit
