Working & Managing Virtual Teams

An overview on the ups, downs and concepts around working within and managing a virtual team.

Transcript

1. WORKING & MANAGING VIRTUAL TEAMS
2. mac fowler @macfowler macfowler.com
9. WHAT IS A REMOTE TEAM? HUH?
10. WHAT ARE THEY? Remote team – A group of individuals who work across time, space and organization boundaries with links strengthen by webs of communication technology. - Or - The team can’t logistically get together for a beer once a week.
11. UPSIDES TWO SIDES
12. TWO SIDES - UPSIDE Larger talent pool Greater flexibility Work life balance Outside of your bubble
13. DOWNSIDES TWO SIDES
14. TWO SIDES - DOWNSIDES Disconnectedness Different skillsets required Time zones Blocking
15. MAKE IT WORK HOW THEN?
16. MAKE IT WORK Communicate, talk, listen, reaffirm, acknowledge, repeat, confirm… Use the right tech at the right time Get together The Process
17. MAKE IT WORK - COMMUNICATE Super duper important as it’s very easy to leave information out when all communication is text or webcam based. This is your overhead
18. MAKE IT WORK - TOOLS Skype w/web cam HipChat Basecamp Jing Dropbox Google Docs Conceptboard FreeConference Call.com Bug/Task tracker of choice Email
19. MAKE IT WORK - TOOLS Tools do matter…but it’s your process and culture that will ultimately determine your success.
20. MAKE IT WORK – GET TOGETHER Nothing will ever beat the results of getting a team face to face. Energy, bonding, relating, joking
21. MAKE IT WORK – PROCESS Pull not push Parallelize work Consistency Social proof
22. RECAP There are pros & cons Communicate 10x Tools help but don’t equal success Get together Try different processes
23. QUESTIONS? INQUIRIES? @macfowler | mac.fowler@gmail.com