Harnessing the Power of ONE

Is the culture of teamwork a myth? Definitely NOT! Teamwork doesn’t happen overnight, specially when working with people from various locations and diverse backgrounds.  It will always be a work in progress.  The very culture of your virtual team will rely on your team’s commitment and your appreciation of their efforts.  In the real world, it is already tough to find a place where teamwork rules – where people think, decide, and act as one.  There will always be clashes of ideas and personalities along the way.

Is team building possible in a virtual office? Today’s technologies made it possible to bridge the gap between time and space.  People from the United States can communicate with people across the globe through the internet.  Businesses also cut costs with free instant messaging and video conferencing tools out there on the web.  Some virtual teams even engage in virtual team building activities,  where they can hang out together while saving a lot on travel expenses of a live meeting.

How to Build a Strong Virtual Team

The key to making team building work is at the startup stage.  As a client, you need to:

1.  Define a Clear Goal

Don’t expect to reach a goal if you don’t know how you’re going to get it in the first place.  Real-time or online, establishing a clear goal is the key to any team’s success.  Make sure your team members understand their tasks and your expectations from each.

2.  Clarify Expectations

You don’t want confusion to mess up your project as early as the first stage.  You can simply do a follow-up with your team members by sending out a query email asking if they have understood what is expected of them.  Encourage them to ask questions.

3.  Value Innovation

You may never know when a spark of idea can push your project to hyper-drive.  The advantage of having people with various expertise is having a gold mine of new ideas that will turn into amazing solutions.  Let your team know that you value what they have to say.

4.  Create Challenges

Keep in mind that your team members work in isolation and they may get bored.  Challenge them with tasks that will bring out the best of their skills.  This will help your team work better, so long as you don’t forget to appreciate their efforts.  You can also switch tasks and offer variety so your remote workers won’t get stuck in the same routine.

5.  Build Relationships

One caveat of a virtual team is the lack of face-to-face interaction which can give that feel-good factor.  Still, this must not prevent you from building rapport with your team.  You can arrange a virtual team meeting each month where your team members can choose an avatar or image to represent themselves.  It may be far-fetched, but the idea of a virtual get-together can be a fun and learning experience.

At the end of a work week, team building evolves on the word TRUST.  Give your team members the independence they need to grow their skills as your project evolves.  By trusting them to do their jobs well, you inspire a sense of ownership that will make your  virtual workers feel more than just a number on your payroll list.  Build that Team from Scratch!

Where in the World is My Team?

Something Interesting:

How to Build a ( Strong ) Virtual Team

Building Blocks for Teams

Virtual Team Building:  Does It Work?

Author: Marissa Sayno

Passion and Love for writing makes Marissa continue her quest to inspire readers online and in real-time ( for over 5 years ). Writing has found her when she won a slogan writing contest for a local magazine, and her journey goes on... to the road of discovery.