{"id":29554,"date":"2020-05-08T11:15:30","date_gmt":"2020-05-08T11:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.proprofs.com\/c\/?p=29554"},"modified":"2025-03-26T10:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T10:30:09","slug":"training-virtual-teams-how-to-manage-it-effectively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.proprofstraining.com\/blog\/training-virtual-teams-how-to-manage-it-effectively\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Managing a Virtual Team Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you wondering how to crack the code of managing a virtual team successfully? If yes, it\u2019s understandable. It requires a slightly different approach and a bit of extra effort than managing an in-house team.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 50 percent of employees worldwide work outside their office headquarters for at least 2.5 days a week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Globally, 85% of businesses think they are more productive because they have <\/span>flexible working systems<\/span><\/a> in place.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what IWG, a leading provider of modern workspace solutions, found recently in its <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing a growing breed of virtual teams can be challenging but not impossible, provided you provide proper virtual team training.<\/span><\/p>\n

Effective employee management<\/span> has been a key function for HR departments for a long time and it is closely aligned to strategic business objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog post, I will take you through the importance of managing a virtual team, the everyday challenges of managing such a team, and how to overcome them. They are intended to ensure that virtual teams stay connected with you and work cohesively toward shared goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, here we go.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a Virtual Team?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Virtual<\/p>\n

A virtual team is a group of individuals who communicate, learn, and work through digital tools. Such teams can be either local or remote. They are usually spread across different time zones, linguistic regions, and cultures.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the context of online learning and training, a virtual team consists of teams in remote offices, those working from home, and freelancers<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

They usually communicate and collaborate by using video conferences, chat, instant messaging, and emails.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Importance of Managing a Virtual Team<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

As already said, virtual teams are generally located in different places around the world, with companies cashing in on a global talent pool. The bigger the company, the bigger the size of the projects it handles, and so most likely the bigger the size of its virtual team. Such a setup necessitates virtual team training and management in a professional way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since you can\u2019t see the team members face to face, it becomes all the more important to manage them tactfully. It is not just about assigning a task and getting it done within a stipulated time. It is also about keeping the teams motivated and engaged all the time. It is about <\/span>building trust with your team<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may not be co-locating or sharing the same office space with a virtual team; still, building a culture of teamwork and support among the team members is important.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a high-performing and successful virtual team, there needs to be clarity on the part of each team member on what\u2019s expected of them. They should also know about the importance of their commitment to work and the need to maintain a strong team spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this can be achieved through a systematic approach to managing virtual teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Top 7 Challenges Faced By Virtual Teams<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

There are several challenges that virtual teams often encounter and virtual team managers have a hard time dealing with them. Some of the top ones are:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the absence of in-person contact and no way to see non-verbal cues, communication can become badly affected in a virtual team environment. Sometimes, some virtual team members remain out of touch for days for no obvious reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the chances of miscommunication and misinterpretation are high, especially in written online communications which makes working in a virtual team difficult at times.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Time Zone Differences<\/b><\/h3>\n

Virtual teams working in different time zones often need to find a common communication time. While this is inevitable, it can put undue stress and burden on some members to be online outside of their regular business hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, this can create a sense of disconnect in a team as people in one time zone are just starting their day while on the other side, some are calling it a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Cultural Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Cultural<\/p>\n

Issues related to cultural differences often arise when people of different age groups, speaking different languages and exhibiting different habits work together.<\/span> The problem becomes compounded due to ignorance, unconscious bias, unwarranted assumptions, and insensitivity towards other cultures.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Lack of Trust<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Team members in a virtual setup can\u2019t see what others are actually doing as their waking hours and working hours don\u2019t coincide in clockwork precision. There is a lack of socialization and each team member creates their own perceptions about their fellow members. This way, trust gets eroded over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Lack of Social Interactions<\/b><\/h3>\n

Humans are social animals and social interactions are essential in professional life. There is always a need for casual interactions between employees where they talk about their work, daily challenges, personal life, and so on. This is how people turn to others to seek comfort out of their stressful lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most virtual workspaces lack this kind of real human need – person-to-person connection. Video calls once in a while cannot be a replacement for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Distractions<\/b><\/h3>\n

In a virtual work system, many employees will be working from home for at least some part of their time. <\/span>27%<\/span><\/a> of employed parents with kids reported the difficulty of managing them while working at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

This and other types of distractions, such as loud music in the vicinity, are common in a remote work environment, unlike in an office setup where there are psychological boundaries and privacy.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Poor Productivity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not every virtual employee is organized in their day-to-day work routine. The absence of a formal office environment, mismanagement of time, and lack of focus can adversely impact their productivity. Also, it is hard for people to naturally associate their home or any other place with work when they are away from office space built for the purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch: Managing Your Tasks<\/strong><\/p>\n