How To Assemble A Winning Virtual Team

Just like anything else, if you are unsure about what you are doing with a virtual team, then

you are in for a tough time. There are more opportunities for speed bumps when working

virtually as opposed to working directly. You will discover that achieving objectives may be

more difficult to achieve because of the lack of direct contact. A virtual team can be easily left

on their own, and that is why you need to take care you do not overdo that. More info at

corporate team building activities

Keep in mind the unique nature of virtual teams because of differing time zones, etc. What

you should do is figure out where your team members are and have a solid idea regarding

allowable times for responding, etc. If you give someone a deadline of so many hours or

days, then just figure in the difference with time so all is fair and reasonable. Being rigid will

serve no purpose and will simply make it more difficult for you to manage your team.

Remember to build all the necessary differences into all you do such as any scheduling of

events, etc. This is merely professional courtesy so as to allow all parties involved to get

things in order.

You need to give freedom to your team and let it breathe; that's how you achieve real growth.

Also, being the project manager you should focus on improving your own managing skills by

helping the team meet the goals. You will find that individual and team goals are created and

achieve as well as other duties. Your team is capable of performing in excess of what they

believe they can do, and it is your task to draw that out of them.

At times people will have conflicts, and it is incumbent upon you to resolve it without creating

friction and drag on forward momentum. If there is a problem, then you may eventually

discover that it was caused by a lack of communication or poor communications. So if any

such situation comes to light, make sure you sort it out right there and then. That makes it

even more important for your team members to feel like they can talk to you. Any problem

has the potential to bring a project down, and that is the cold hard truth. Hopefully you see

how you can expand your business with a solid virtual team in place. Among all the concerns

you will have to be aware of, the most potentially volatile will be with communications with

your team. When you think about it, you have to communicate in order for everything to get

done.