the virtual manager may 2009

sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

The Virtual Manager

Presented by

Salvatore Gigante - Leadership and Effectiveness in Virtual Workplace

2 sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

Today’s Objectives

• Identify the challenges to managing from a distance

• Assess self in key skill areas used to manage from a distance

• Identify key distance leadership and management skills

• Develop strategies to allow team to be more effective in a virtual environment

What are the challenges of What are the challenges of managing from a distance?managing from a distance?

How do these challenges differ How do these challenges differ from managing a team locally?from managing a team locally?

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Challenges become magnified when managing from a distance

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Managing Local vs. Virtual Teams

Local• Face to face• Monitor

performance and actions

• Easy access• Management by

walking around

Virtual• Remote

communications• More difficult to

monitor person’s actions

• Track them down• Motivate at a

distance

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Effective Leadership and Management Skills• Providing Strategic Direction• Communication (staying connected)• Building Relationships• Setting Objective Goals• Coaching• Motivating• Providing Development Opportunities• Providing Feedback and Support• Managing by results, not activity

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Are your Employees Being Productive?

Is Trust an Issue for You?

sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

How well do you manage a virtual team?

How would you describe your How would you describe your current management style?current management style?

• Very direct with a "telling" style

• A coaching style

• A controlling style

• A wait and see style, allowing employees to "figure it out"

Do you have written measurable Do you have written measurable goals for each employee?goals for each employee?

Do you meet regularly with each Do you meet regularly with each employee in person to discuss employee in person to discuss what and how they are doing?what and how they are doing?

Do you do a formal orientation for Do you do a formal orientation for new employees to the team?new employees to the team?

Do you formally work to build Do you formally work to build team cohesiveness?team cohesiveness?

How do you approach a How do you approach a performance issue with a remote performance issue with a remote

employee?employee?• Allow the employee some time to work out the

issue before addressing• Address immediately by letting the employee

know what is expected of them• Discuss the situation with the employee as soon

as you can meet in-person• Address the situation as soon as you are aware of

it through two-way discussion

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Tools for Virtual Teams

• Telephone• Scheduled Team Conference Calls (Weekly)• E-mails• IM – Instant Messaging• Live Meeting Virtual Learning software• Videoconference• Face to Face Visits• One on One Telephone Conference

sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

So, What are the Best Tools for Managing Virtual Teams?

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What Questions or Situations do you Have?

• Do you have a situation you would like to share?

• Do you have any questions?

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Action Planning

• What are you currently doing well?

• What can you do better?

• Specifically, what do you need to do to improve your virtual leadership skills?

• By when will you make these improvements?

17 sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

Virtual Team Leadership Tips

1. Take pictures of the team and post them on a site that is available to the entire team.

2. Don’t always handout project to the people who offices near you, be sure to distribute evenly amongst the team.

3. Never deliver bad new or negative feedback by e-mail.4. Watch your tone in your e-mail.5. Be sensitive to the time zone of your virtual team.6. If you virtual team is in another country, be sure to

accommodate them by having calls on their time zone

18 sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

A Final Thought….Here are the 4 critical dimensions of

Communication• Build Trust – The core of communication is

developing trust.• Share Knowledge – Knowledge is power. Equip

your team with as much knowledge as you can.• Provide Feedback – People need to know where

they stand.• Walk the Talk – We have to walk our talk

personally and professionally.

sal.gigante@yahoo.com – May 2009

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Resources• The Distance Manager by Kimball Fisher, Maureen Fisher

• Quick Guide to Interaction Styles and Working Remotely: Strategies for Leading and Working in Virtual Teams by Susan K. Gerke, Linda V. Berens

• http://www.qualitydigest.com/sept00/html/teams.html

• http://www.trg-inc.com/LVTeams1.pdf

• http://www.odnetwork.org/odponline/vol33n1/dispersed.html

• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Managing+Remote+Employee&btnG=Google+Search