Virtual teams are a great way to develop, deliver and grow your business. Unlike managing your regular staff, virtual team management and communication require a different approach and mindset altogether.
Shift your perspective
This is the first thing that you should do before managing or even starting a virtual team. They are unlike your regular employees, with whom you maintain an employer-employee relationship. Virtual resources feel more like independent entrepreneurs who work for you in achieving your set objectives/tasks.
Understand their culture
If you are engaging virtual teams from different geographical and cultural locations, you must understand their culture, lifestyle and communication patterns to effectively get the best out your team.
57% of respondents mentioned culture, language and inability to read people’s expressions as the primary challenge in managing virtual teams (The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited).
Clear communication of your objectives
This is a very important aspect of the whole relationship. You have to receive acknowledgement that they have understood what you are expecting. This is important because of language barriers, cultural barriers, assumptions, preconceived notions and inconclusive physical expressions.
Setup conducive time tables for meetings and status updates
This is important if you are working from different time zones. You have to zero in on the right time slots which are easy for both the parties. Also ensure that the status updates are regular and work progress is logged as per schedule.
Create and maintain communication norms
Keep a strict tab on your communication procedures like ensuring that an email is answered within 24 hours, meetings are not skipped, updates and work logs be uploaded, expectations and feedback be communicated and so on. This will avoid discrepancies and ensure smooth flow and completion of work on time.
Effective use of Google Apps
Google is a great and easy way to manage and track your virtual team. Google provides you email, docs, calendar, chat, etc., which are all required on a daily basis to communicate and manage your team.
GoToMeeting
This is an effective platform if you require frequent meetings with your team. You can convey your ideas, conduct trainings and even share applications on your system. All this goes a long way in reducing the distance between you and your team.
“In a research conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited, more than half of executives say that their virtual teams use video conferencing on a regular basis.”
Useful online tools
Make maximmum use of online tools which can enhance your communication and assist you in the whole process. Some notable tools are Webex for meetings, Yammer for social media like communication, Dropbox for documents, photos, videos, Skype for communication, desktop sharing and so on.
Dave Otfinoski, CEO of My Business Assistant or “MBA”, has more than twenty-five years of executive, hands-on experience with small and mid-sized businesses. As CEO of MBA, Dave manages a team of experienced virtual assistants who have extensive expertise in the realms of small business operations, bookkeeping services, website design, SEO, content creation and call center operations. Outstanding client service and quality performance are the hallmarks of both My Business Assistant and the MBA team. We look forward to providing you with the Virtual Assistance that you may require to enhance your own business strategies. Please feel free to contact us at http://www.MyBusinessAssistant.com or call us at 800.993.9622 with any questions or inquiries that you may have. 
Hi. Great share. Yes, managing a virtual team can be taxing specially if the members are of different culture and time zone. It is really important that you lay down the objectives and the rules before the start of a project and all must be present when calling for a scheduled meeting in order for your message to be conveyed at once and you can address immediately whatever concerns each member has about the project. Having a time table is also good to keep track of activities done as well as easy to check if the objective has been met and activities are right on schedule.
Managing a virtual team is a great way to cut cost and go green. I also manage a virtual team and in my personal experience in order manage virtual team effectively, you will need the right online tool and resources that can help you run your business smoothly and efficiently. Here is an article that you might want to check to help you manage virtual team. Using these tools it can help you improve productivity, collaboration, project management and team communication.
I believe that managing virtual team is a lot different from a usual office. Virtual team is a group of individual that are working on different parts of the world. In managing remote teams effectively you will need the right online tools and resources that can help you run your business effectively and efficiently to progress. One of the key to manage virtual team is through communication. Tools like Skype and YM are very useful in managing remote team for it can help you improve communication. Project management tools like Basecamp can also help you manage remote teams which allows you to plan, organize, manage resources, set specific goals and etc. Using these tools it can help you improve collaboration, project management and team communication.