Empowering your Virtual Team (cont.)

Build Your Team - Utilize your virtual environment and associated technologies to provide team-building opportunities for your team. Let your team members know that their presence is significant, regardless their role or location. Encourage your team members to use available technologies to foster their individuality; especially in environments where consultants and internal employees will be interacting with one another. Fostering a strong, cohesive team at the onset is a recipe for success.

Establish Communication Pathways - As outlined in our previous article Improving Communication Pathways When Establishing Virtual Teams, effective information exchange at the forefront will carve the pathway for the course of the project. Feeling detached and isolated in a virtual team is not uncommon, so encourage team members to share their ideas and foster a warm and safe working environment, just as you would for an in-house workgroup.

Don't micromanage - Nobody appreciates a micromanager, especially in virtual environments. Providing opportunities for your virtual team members to earn your trust through performance consistency and task-based successes is far more appreciated, than constant checks and balances. Training consultants, working remotely, value the trust and creativity associated with autonomy. Find opportunities to have your team members express their opinions and decision-making power as appropriate, rather than simply delegating tasks.