When all goes according to plan, working virtually is much like working in a traditional brick and mortar office, only it can be cheaper, more efficient and does not come with a daily commute. That’s because the most prosperous virtual organizations — large and small — seamlessly replicate the best aspects of an office environment for their employees, customers, partners and suppliers.
Success doesn’t mean investing in the latest or most expensive high-tech gear. The best organizations consider what changes they will make in how they communicate, their work processes and how they will handle common issues such as managing people, changing roles and time zone differences.
Knowing what works for you, your team and your organization is a key starting point for success. For instance, if you crave water-cooler conversation, there is Skype, instant messaging and email. If you’re worried about equal access to your management team and maintaining productive long-distance relationships, try having everyone dial into conference calls, whether they’re working on-site or remotely. As a manager of virtual teams, you need to be much more aware of your actions. As a remote employee, you need to be conscious of your company culture and structure to reach out effectively and maintain your visibility in your organization.
Virtual teams enable large companies to tap the best talent for the job, regardless of location. The same is true for small and mid-sized, start-up companies – and even start-ups, which can leverage a distributed workforce and establish a presence in numerous key geographic areas without the expense of frequent travel and real estate.
For an interesting take on the virtual office, check out this Inc. article. For more on how to become a successful member of a virtual team, check out our course offering at http://oregontrainingnetwork.com/training-topics/virtual-teams/.
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