Building Trust in Virtual and Dispersed Teams

Korrine JonesOD Consulting

Research

• Micro-businesses to multinationals

• IT, banking, mining, logistics, sales, retail, public sector, consulting firms, e-learning providers

Real life lessons

• Work past swift trust• Clear vision, values, roles and processes• Face to face if possible• Manage by outcomes• Focus on building relationships• Explicit about needs and expectations• Meet regularly – virtually• Ground rules and protocols• Agree on how to communicate

• Clearly articulated vision, goals and plans

• Clear roles

Values and ground rules

• Leadership• Model corporate vision and values and these team values

• Responsibility and integrity• Do what you say you’re going to do

• Respect• Acknowledge electronic communication within agreed timeframes

• Teamwork• Connect with other team members regularly

• Creativity• Think outside the square

(Source: RW3 LLC, 2012)

Face to face……if possible

• Speeds up trust building• Develop shared vision, values and plans• Include social interaction

Manage by outcomes

Build one on one relationships

• Very deliberately contact each team member frequently

• Focus on those most remote

• Have purely social conversations

• If possible, face to face time with new starters

Needs and expectations

Trust

Expectations• Regular meetings• Holidays• Fun workplace

Needs• Financial

security• Respect• Belonging

“Trust is fragile – we need to be explicit in our needs, expectations and promises.”

(Source: Hall, V., 2013.)

Replicate water cooler conversations

Meet often - virtually

Rituals, symbols, celebrations

Ensure effective communication• Agree on how to communicate

• Choose and use tools wisely• Communication and virtual meeting protocols

Additional Resources

For whitepapers, blogs and more information

www.odconsulting.com.au

OD Consulting

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