Anna Parini
“Virtual” teams—ones made up of people in different physical locations—are on the rise. As companies expand geographically and as telecommuting becomes more common, work groups often span far-flung offices, shared workspaces, private homes, and hotel rooms. When my firm, Ferrazzi Greenlight, recently surveyed 1,700 knowledge workers, 79% reported working always or frequently in dispersed teams. Armed with laptops, Wi-Fi, and mobile phones, most professionals can do their jobs from anywhere.
Getting Virtual Teams Right
Anna Parini “Virtual” teams—ones made up of people in different physical locations—are on the rise. As companies expand geographically and as telecommuting becomes more common, work groups often span far-flung offices, shared workspaces, private homes, and hotel rooms. When my firm, Ferrazzi Greenlight, recently surveyed 1,700 knowledge workers, 79% reported working always or frequently in […]
Summary.
With more and more companies doing business in far-flung places and more and more employees telecommuting, virtual teams—those made up of people in different physical locations—are on the rise. Geographic separation can make it challenging for dispersed teammates to communicate and collaborate. But evidence suggests that if virtual work groups are well managed, they can outperform teams with common office space.
Consultants at Ferrazzi Greenlight believe that four elements are crucial for success:
The right team. Start by assembling qualified people who can work independently and flexibly. Keep the group size small, and divide the labor appropriately.
- The right leadership.Effective managers foster trust, encourage open dialogue, and set clear goals and guidelines.
- The right touchpoints. Virtual teammates should meet face-to-face occasionally. This is especially useful when a project kicks off, when someone new comes on board, and when key milestones or problems occur.
- The right technology. To maximize productivity, install easy-to-use systems for conference calling, making direct calls, sending text messages, and participating in online discussion forums and virtual team rooms.
HBR Reprint R1412J
A version of this article appeared in the December 2014 issue of Harvard Business Review.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Global Collaboration. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to overcome barriers when working globally.