leading a virtual team by julian e. dipp
Post on 21-Oct-2014
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The Role of the Leader in a Virtual Team - Practical advices to succeed.TRANSCRIPT
Leading a Virtual Team
Julián E. Dipp
Topics What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
Aka geographically dispersed team
Is a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology.
Key Characteristics
Complementary Skills
Common purpose
Interdependent performance goals
Everyone is accountable for everyone’s work
Benefits
Skilled employees may be located anywhere in the world
Workers can balance personal life with their work
responsibilities
The workday is 24x7 instead of 8hs
New and more efficient technologies are promoted
Problem solving possibilities/approaches are widened
Organizations are more flexible and responsive to the
marketplace
What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
Leadership Definition
Process of social influence* in which one person is able to enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.
*Influence means that the relationship between people is not passive; it is reciprocal.
The Seven Competences of an EffectiveVirtual Team Leader
5 Do’s and Don’ts for Virtual Team Leaders
1. DO be a leader, results catalyst, facilitator, barrier buster, business analyzer, coach and living example.
2. DO “purpose” the team well.
3. DO help everyone understand what each person does and needs from others.
4. DO get them the tools, time, and budget necessary to succeed.
5. DO install the systems, tools, protocols, and training for success.
1. DON’T be autocratic nor an abdicator.
2. DON’T allow poor team start-ups.
3. DON’T allow unclear roles and responsibilities to confuse people.
4. DON’T starve teams of resources
5. DON’T forget to create both social and technical infrastructure
Interacting with different cultures
The good leader must:
Understand that everyone has their own background, religion and habits. Flexibility or receptiveness is vital when dealing with people from different countries
Create a team atmosphere
Take advantage of the various ways of thinking
Create rules of engagement for the teammates and making sure everyone knows them
HiringThis is a crucial step when developing a Virtual
Team. Applicants must:
Be self-confidentBe IndependentBe ProactiveActively seek for communication with their
teammates and Team LeaderWillingness to work with different cultures
What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
Coaching
Good coaching clarifies goals and measures, and entails lots of communication and employee involvement.
Goals and measurements are especially important to leaders who must coach from a distance. Metrics are almost like a virtual manager that keeps everyone focused on the most important priorities.
Shared accountability creates a feeling of real partnership. Good accountability systems create a feeling of clarity, purpose, and empowerment.
Coaching Tips Watch for clues that tell when to step in and coach Implement a peer feedback process Establish regular one-on-one coaching sessions
with each employee Use a structured improvement plan
Building Effective Teams
The Leader should:
Create a team charter Set operating
guidelines Clearly define team
member roles and responsibilities
Provide clear processes
Teach how to give and receive feedback
Teach good conflict-management skills
Employ empathic listening skills
Develop good decision-making processes
Integrate new team members effectively
Training from a Distance
Limit Web-based training sessions to two hours or less Where possible, use a combination of remote training
and face-to-face sessions Stay focused on results, not activities Take into consideration the environment in which the
individual(s) will be located Assess the needs of your team to assure that the
appropriate topics and methods of delivery are used Try to simulate face-to-face training as much as
possible Carefully select the method of Web-based training
Building Trust from a Distance
Communicate openly and frequently To get trust, give trust Be honest Establish strong business ethics Do what you say you will do, and make your actions
visible Make sure that your interactions with the team are
consistent and predictable
From the outset, set the tone for future interaction
Be accessible and responsive
Maintain confidences
Watch your language
Create social time for the team
What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
Getting the Right Technology
The best solution isn’t always the most expensive
Consider which is the best technology according to the service you will provide and how effectively it will fit into your system
Determine what Software you’ll need before you determine what Hardware to use
Provide reliable communication equipment systems (e.g. DSL, phone, pagers, web cam, etc.)
Virtual Meetings
As people are geographically dispersed Virtual Meetings are important to enhance and promote communication. The leader must:
Have facilitator and communication skills Know how to make the best use of technology Share documentation Consider different time zones before setting up the
meeting
Using e-mail to manage a Virtual Team
Have a “no-scrolling” rule
Keep group lists up to date
Check e-mail regularly
Use the description line well
Use automatic replies when necessary
Ensure privacy and confidentiality are not violated
Educate the team on appropriate and inappropriate use of e-mail
Be careful of putting emotional content into e-mail
Using shared workspace
Use collaborative applications Train people how to work together in shared
applications Do regular backups Do not use confusing file names Have protocols for the common space
What is a Virtual Team?
Leadership: Foundation Principles
Communication and Coordination
Using Technology
Conclusions
Questions
Global business challenge is coordinating people from a distance.
New management strategies and techniques are needed.
While conventional leaders can watch what their team is doing, a virtual Team Leader must rely on his people.
A Virtual Leader must master technology in order to use it for the benefit of his team.
Technology alone is insufficient. Leaders now need to also master interpersonal relationships which is even harder from a distance.
There is no cookbook for leading people in remote locations. This concept is
challenging traditional management.
Questions?