Virtual Team Building and Management

Course Overview

There are an estimated one billion virtual workers in 2012, and the number is expected to continue climbing well into the future. With a global workforce you are provided with a cost effective and talented pool of employees to draw from. With a virtual team you are given a Follow the Sun production environment.

With a virtual team you have the normal issues of a localized

team, with the additional challenges of distance and cultural differences. Virtual Team Building and Management will give you participants the knowledge to work with these challenges and succeed in a growing global workforce.

Course Outline:

Module One: Getting Started

• Housekeeping Items

• The Parking Lot

• Workshop Objectives

• Pre-Assignment

• Action Plans and Evaluations

Module Two: Setting up Your Virtual Team (I)

• Choose Self-Motivated People with Initiative

• Face to Face Meeting At First

• Diversity Will Add Value

• Experienced with Technology

• Case Study

• Module Two: Review Questions

Module Three: Setting Up Your Virtual Team (II)

• Personality Can Count as Much as Skills

• Rules of Engagement

• Setting up Ground Rules

• Icebreakers and Introductions

• Case Study

• Module Three: Review Questions

Module Four: Virtual Team Meetings

• Scheduling Will Always be an Issue

• Have a Clear Objective and Agenda

• Solicit Additional Topics in Advance

• Discourage Just Being Status Reports

• Case Study

• Module Four: Review Questions

Module Five: Communication (I)

• Early and Often

• Rules of Responsiveness

• Face to Face When Possible

• Choose the Best Tool

• Case Study

• Module Five: Review Questions

Module Six: Communication (II)

• Be Honest and Clear

• Stay in Constant Contact

• Don’t Make Assumptions

• Setup Email Protocols

• Case Study

• Module Six: Review Questions

Module Seven: Building Trust

• Trust Your Team and They Will Trust You

• Be Aware of “Us vs. Them” Territorial Issues

• Share Best Practices

• Create a Sense of Ownership

• Case Study

• Module Seven: Review Questions

Module Eight: Cultural Issues

• Respect and Embrace Differences

• Be Aware of Different Work Styles

• Know Your Team Members Cultural Background

• Dealing with Stereotypes

• Case Study

• Module Eight: Review Questions

Module Nine: To Succeed With a Virtual Team

• Set Clear Goals

• Create a SOP”s

• Build a Team Culture

• Provide Timely Feedback

• Case Study

• Module Nine: Review Questions

Module Ten: Dealing With Poor Team Players

• Manage Their Results, Not Their Activities

• Be Proactive Not of Reactive

• Check in Often

• Remove Them

• Case Study

• Module Ten: Review Questions

Module Eleven: Choosing the Right Tools

• Communication Software

• Collaboration and Sharing Tools

• Project Management Software

• Use Whatever Works for You and Your Team

• Case Study

• Module Eleven: Review Questions

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up

• Words from the Wise

• Review of Parking Lot

• Lessons Learned

• Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations