Work in a virtual setting: challenges for leaders
Managing groups remotely can be difficult. Take a look at the following tips which, according to an article at business2community.com, will help you manage your virtual employees.
Everyone needs to be proactive
Virtual team members are usually much more independent than a typical employee would be. They work in isolation and must manage their time on their own as no extensive oversight by a superior is possible. Therefore, you need to give them the latitude to complete their work in a way that makes sense for their situation and schedule. You must, however, insist they be available to provide any necessary assistance to the team.
Virtual team members need to be proactive; otherwise, collaboration will not be effective. People working remotely must be able to identify work that needs to be done without being told by their superior. At the same time, they must also be able to reach out to their leader for guidance when they need it.
Effective communication
Usually there are a number of communication channels available. To avoid unclear expectations, lack of comprehension or confusion of many kinds, these channels need to be used. Deliverables should be passed between team members so that the joint effort can move forward. Any breakdown can completely derail the work of the whole team.
Communication must take place when clarification is needed. Virtual leaders don’t always have the time to check in with every single individual on their team. Therefore, maintaining steady lines of communication can help ensure that no team member will be left in the dark when struggling with a task.
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