Virtual Teams For Dummies

Chapter 21

Ten Predictors of Virtual Team Success

IN THIS CHAPTER

Putting in place solid hiring practices

Building alignment in your virtual team

Having strategies in place that ensure success

Virtual teams have different needs than teams who are located in the same office. If you’re not careful, the literal distance between team members can create figurative distances. From there you can expect communication breakdown, reduced productivity, disengagement, confusion, mistrust, and ultimately, failure. And when virtual teams fail, usually the virtual part gets the blame — not the lack of planning for their specific needs.

This chapter can safeguard you from virtual team failure. Through my research, I can see the issues that arise if these 10 things aren’t managed effectively. Here are the top predictors of success for your virtual team. Think of it as a checklist to guarantee your virtual team success.

Having the Right Technology

Virtual teams rely heavily on technology to connect team members. Technology is essential for virtual teams, but remember that although it exists to enable team communication and collaboration, it can’t replace good management.

Make sure your technology ...