Versature Vice President of Marketing shares her thoughts on enabling and managing a dispersed team. Through technological breakthroughs and changes in modern corporate culture and benefits, more and more teams are opting to work remotely. How do you manage a team that may never actually meet face-to-face? How do you keep everyone on track, engaged, and motivated? Learn about this and more!
6. Commuting
Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!
15.4 million Canadians commute to work each day.
Roughly 82% travel by car, 12% take the bus & 6% walk or cycle.
Average commute in Canada is 25 minutes.
Estimated 32 Days lost in commuting time.
Losses of Over 10 Billion Dollars to our economy.
7. What is a Virtual Team?
A virtual team (also known as a geographically dispersed team, distributed team, or remote team) is a
group of individuals who work across time, space and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by
webs of communication technology.
8. 100% Virtual
Everyone in the company or
on the project works remote.
Hybrid
Some team members work
remotely.
Flexible
Team members can work in
office/on site or remotely.
How to Structure a Virtual Team
“Telecommuting is the future of work”
9. What is Driving People to Work Virtually?
Work and life “balance”
Technology
Accessibility
Freedom
Variety
Commute time
10. ● Flex time
● Reduced or Part-Time
● Compressed Work Week
● Telework / Telecommuting
● Banking Hours
● Gradual Retirement
People Want
Flexibility
“Telecommuting is
the future of work”
11. The Challenges
● Working across timezones
● Language barriers
● Keeping teams motivated, challenged & engaged
● Lack of time to bond with individuals & as a team
● Harder to develop relationships & trust
● Lack of organic conversations & impromptu meetings
● Hiring takes longer and more effort.
● Loneliness and isolation
12. The Perks
● No geographic boundaries to attract top talent.
● Flexibility to travel / Location independence
● Flexible hours
● Work / Life “balance”
● No commute
● Low cost for employer and employee
● Increased job satisfaction
13. ● Web conferencing
● Web Conferencing
● Online Collaboration
● Daily Standups
● Create a Digital Culture
● Create Digital
Boundaries
● Rewards
Leading & Nurturing Virtual Teams
● Walk & Talks
● Lunch or Coffee “Dates”
● Face to Face IRL
Meetings
● Monthly Performance
Reviews
● Rewards & Recognition
● Accountability
● Clear Measures of
Success
14. Who CAN & Who Shouldn’t Be a Virtual Employee
● Self Starters /Motivated
● Risk takers
● Individual Contributors
● Leaders
● Introverts
● Extroverts
● Communicators
Who CAN be on a Virtual Team
● Commitment
● Loyal
● Reliable
● Emotionally Mature
● Ownership
● Responsive
● Flexible
15. Companies with 100% Virtual Teams
This new media company says employees can “work from home,
from a coffee shop, from a coworking space—anywhere with
good enough Internet to do a Google Hangout.”
This marketing and technology company says it has "no
committees or bureaucracy of any kind," and that "team members
can live anywhere – and they do – in 18 U.S. states and
Canada."
At this project management tool provider, “many of us love
working remotely."
16. Jennifer Baker
Chief of Staff
“On Virtual teams we
focus on managing
results, not activities.
Sometimes being in an
office setting inspires
people to do busy
work.”
ca.com
17. Karen Cheung
Digital Marketing Manager
“Virtual teams work
out of office, just like
our brand does.
Benefits? More
flexibility and
independence to own
your work.”
teasetea.com
18. 3 Things Required with Virtual Teams
Trust
Commitment
Professionalism