Without visual clues in communication, the context is often missing and thus we are unable to assess the situation correctly. This is what makes working with virtual teams difficult. It places greater demands on you as a manager because you have to put in some extra effort to find out what the situation is
Listen carefully and try to catch any subtle clues that may help you. When working remotely with your colleagues, you simply need to be focused on whoever you are talking to. Only then, according to the management-issues.com website, will you be able to spot possible difficulties before they actually occur.
Build relationships even when only writing an e-mail
Yes, a one-word response is often enough for providing the information requested. But try to think about whether there is maybe something you could add or do to help provide a solution if the question concerns or hints at a problem.
Listening is more important than ever
Even when people try to be persuasive, it is not always easy for them to convince others of what they are saying. Therefore you have to be especially attentive and curious. Listen to the voice; try to identify signals about how the person who is talking to you feels. Are there any doubts or panic in the voice? You need to pick up all subtle clues in order to get the whole picture. This can help a great deal to clarify the message coming your way.
Deal with only one task at once
Since we cannot really focus properly on more than one task at once, it is important always to focus fully on the given activity at any particular moment. When working with someone from a distance, you may be tempted to do other things at the same time. But resist such temptation: don’t answer e-mails, try to clean your desk or check social networks. Give your colleague as much of your attention as you can. Your collaboration will thus become much more effective.
-jk-