How to Lead a Virtual Team

Virtual teams have unique communication and teambuilding challenges. Team members are physically separated from one another and spend less time interacting on a personal basis. Managers must make an extra effort to keep their team members connected and prevent the occurrence of miscommunication. A few simple tips can create a productive and close-knit group: Establish a team charter describing goals, outcomes, milestones and individual responsibilities. Set up a team blog where members can share information, successes, challenges and suggestions. Bring the team members together as often as possible to build cohesion and interpersonal relationships. Encourage team members to communicate with one another, not just through the manager.