As organisations become increasing multi-national, plus an increased focus on work/life balance there are more remote workers than ever, meaning working with others virtually is a necessity for most people.. 

A recent IDC forecast predicted that that the world wide mobile worker population will go from one billion in 2010 to 1.3billion by 2015

Working virtually is often seen as the default rather than the first choice but if we can overcome the potential issues the advantages are huge, here are a few:

• Reduced carbon footprint
• Cost effective
• Diversity
• Work/life balance

However the benefits can sometimes be overshadowed by the very real issues that can arise when working in a virtual team:

• Technology issues
• Lack of social interaction
• Different time zones
• Cultural differences
• Communication

Critical elements of team work become a thousand times amplified – greater thought and planning are required

Here are some top tips for effective virtual team working:

• Kick things off in person
• Create communication guidelines
• Leverage the latest technology
• Acknowledge, respect and embrace cultural diversity
• Create and encourage virtual water cooler moments

I am experienced and passionate about virtual learning and teamwork, please connect with me if you need some support in maximising the effectiveness of your virtual team