Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams

Globalization and new technologies have made team collaboration from distant geographical locations?on the road, from home or client sites, even on the other side of the globe?a routine part of business. Managing these teams requires new skills and sensitivities to maximize team and organizational performance.

Emphasizing pragmatism over theory and offering helpful tips instead of vague observations, Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams helps you bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation and get peak performance from employees you rarely see. You will learn how to:

• Keep team members in remote locations motivated and involved
• Coach for peak performance via e-mail, telephone, teleconference, and videoconference
• Help widely scattered team members understand their contribution to the business
• Build consensus for decisions among virtual team members
• Learn effective communication and feedback techniques for enhancing team performance

Briefcase Books, written specifically for today?s busy manager, feature eye-catching icons, checklists, and sidebars to guide managers step by step through everyday workplace situations. Look for these innovative features to help you navigate each page:

• Clear definitions of key terms and concepts
• Tactics and strategies for managing virtual teams
• Tricks of the trade for executing effective management techniques
• Practical advice for minimizing the possibility of error
• Warning signs for when things are about to go wrong
• Examples of successful virtual managing
• Specific planning procedures, tactics, and hands-on techniques

Preface

Chapter 1 : What Is a Virtual Team?
Chapter 2 : Managing Space, Time, and Culture
Chapter 3 : The Seven Competencies of Effective Virtual Team Leaders
Chapter 4 : What Virtual Team Employees Need from Their Manager
Chapter 5 : Bridging Cultural Differences
Chapter 6 : Starting Up (or Refocusing) a Virtual Team
Chapter 7 : Building Trust from a Distance
Chapter 8 : Using Telephonic Collaboration Technologies
Chapter 9 : Using Videoconferencing and Internet-Based Collaboration Tools
Chapter 10 : Improving the Business IQ of Team Members
Chapter 11 : Teaching Finance Fundamentals to Virtual Teams
Chapter 12 : Improving Communication and Feedback Skills
Chapter 13 : Creative Problem Solving for Virtual Teams
Chapter 14 : Managing Performance from a Distance
Chapter 15 : Effective Decision Making over Distance
Chapter 16 : Virtual Team Building
Chapter 17 : Maintaining a Balanced Personal and Work Life

Index