We are now in a modern world that runs mostly through technology. Also, the Covid 19 situation worldwide has compelled us to work online and form virtual teams. So for years to come, we need to be prepared to drive a lucrative virtual team. A virtual team usually refers to a group of individuals who work together from different geographic locations and rely on communication technology such as email, FAX, and video or voice conferencing services to collaborate. It will demand you to have an awareness of Google analytics solution.
The skill of managing virtual teams is important to acquire the job satisfaction of employees. They have the freedom to choose their preferred physical space and environment to work according to their comfort. It also helps with cost reductions. A virtual team player should have good communication skills, high emotional intelligence, and the ability to work independently, and the resilience to recover from snafus that inevitably arise. Here are a few ways to drive a successful virtual team in 2021:
- Define work systems:
Different people have different ways of going about tasks. Setting standards can shorten the time needed to achieve the desired result. By setting standards and defining repeatable work systems, the team generally has fewer questions and feels how long a task should take. Virtual work systems need to be standardized to allow maximum effectiveness and tailored to allow the necessary freedom to complete the task to the best of one’s ability.
2. Communication:
The benefit of establishing multiple communication tools is two-fold. First, your team has a way to communicate something urgent to the right person immediately. Secondly, it unifies processes such as what to use for conference calls, screen recordings, and so on. It is clear what tool is used for what contributes to creating that internal feeling of togetherness.
- Regular meetings:
Scheduling briefings at the same time on the same weekday contributes to creating a routine. Routines provide the team with something they are used to and familiar with. That, in turn, puts the team at ease and reduces stress. Video calls are one of the best ways to maximize efficiency because they recreate the routine office feeling virtual teams miss.
- Detailed deliverables:
It is better to provide more detailed descriptions of the tasks with examples of the final result. Give the team the freedom to execute it than fewer instructions hand having to deal with potential misunderstandings.
- Overlapping work hours:
Regardless of what time zones your team members are in, it is recommendable to have at least three to four hours a day where most of the team is online simultaneously, even if some team members are unlikely to need each other to complete their tasks. Being online at the same time brings the team close together and is the quickest problem-solving solution.
- Professional work environment:
Professional attire and a distraction-free work environment are part of any corporate culture. Additionally, setting professional standards contributes to being efficient and puts people in the right mindset.
- Calls:
Choose video calls over chatting and emails. With video calling and email being available at everyone’s fingertips, it is tempting to chat and send a quick email. This can easily lead to misunderstandings. With virtual teams, video calls or at least regular calls are more than a way to avoid misunderstandings. They connect the team members on a more personal level.
- Professional workers:
Find the right employees to work with, not everyone is cut for virtual work, and not everyone fits the team personality-wise. So it is better to check and test all the candidates and also double-check the references.
- Meritocratic systems:
It is the process of rewarding and recognizing people based on their skills. It stimulates people to work harder and better. So it is good to establish such systems. Make sure to keep you motivated through this and pinpoint the team members who can take on more responsibility.
- Project management tools:
Use project management tools, and it can be an idea to keep track of deadlines. They also send alerts and reminders for deadlines and give you a quick daily, weekly, or monthly overview of what needs to be done by who and when.
Author: Mary Jean
