Managing a virtual team is not the same as overseeing a more traditional, centrally located group of employees.
Communicating with remote team members demands a higher level of quality. Precision of language and intent are crucial. Working on virtual teams calls for a higher degree of communication frequency.
Distance, lack of personal familiarity, and cultural impacts can all be neutralized as communication threats if team members make it a point to engage in frequent communication.
The key: Assuring that communication occurs as often as it should and in the best possible manner will produce a self-managed virtual team.
How is managing a virtual team different from managing a centrally located group of employees?
Communicating with remote team members requires using language that's more precise
Managers must take greater precaution to ensure that their intentions are clear to their virtual team members
Virtual teams require managers to communicate with them more frequently than centrally located teams
How can a leader of a virtual team improve team communication?
Harness technology to establish a virtual presence with team members and promote self management
Stress quality and frequency of all communications
Communicate team goals and role clarity among team members
Draft a team charter to document all communication aspects
