Five Tips to Leading Virtual Teams

On one of my networking sites, I posed the question "What has to change in order to effectively lead virtual teams?"

As organizations are increasingly decentralizing, and social networks have a greater organizational presence, how has that impacted leadership?

The answers I received were what I had expected....unfortunately.

The dynamics of virtual teams are very different than in-person teams. The connection, the sense of relationship and collaboration is not as present. Staff can't wander into your office to ask a question or even feel that personal presence when seeing their leader or manager walk through the halls of the building. It harder to feel that sense of team when you might be spread all over the city, country or globe.  So leaders have to take notice. Those entering the workforce have to notice as well as their working relationships will be different than in the past.  

I've been working on material for guest lectures and keynotes. Organizations are looking for direction on how to lead in an increasingly virtual world. With the advent of social media and teams connected by technology, relationships have to be forged, however in a new way. If you can't create that connection and strong, cohesive team, then you won't produce. And you know what that means.

So here are some tips to point you in a direction:

1. Make it personal. Start the conversation off with a question that invites people to share who they are, not only what they do. I call them tidbits.
2. Find out something they have in common. Half the fun is finding out what that may be (and make take place over numerous calls.
3. Bring video in if at all possible.  Seeing everyone's faces makes it more personal (and keeps their attention on the virtual meetings). 
4. Follow-up the calls with a short email. Stay in touch so the staff doesn't feel isolated and ignored.
5. Change the timing of the meetings to honor all time zones.

Remember you're working with people through technology, not the other way around.

Leadership is Leadership

"Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time in leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers."— Dee Hock

As long as you're learning and growing, and are open to both, so will others be. If you live your word, then trust will be there. If you have purpose and conviction, then people might disagree with you but they'll still respect you. Managing people tp death for the purpose of having control over them isn't leadership. It's dictatorship.

In my opinion, managing from a perspective of 'power over people' is keeping people under your thumb and saying "I'm important and you're just here to serve a purpose...my purpose". Leading them in the way that inspires others to be their best, do their best and encourage others to do the same says "You're important and contribute to our organizational purpose".

What do you think is best?

Managers light a fire under people and have to do it often. Leaders stoke a fire inside people and feed it just enough through their leadership so it continues to burn.

Formula for Business Success

I was re-reading John Spence's blog from January 2010 where he shares his formula for business success.  Not surprisingly, much of it is about people... connecting, collaborating, and caring about the people you work with.

I absolutely agree when he says "The ONLY way to attract top talent to your team is to give them the opportunity to make a difference." If they can't connect what they're doing with why they know they need to be doing it (speaks to purpose and passion), you won't lose them (as in the future); you've already lost them. Then it'll be an uphill climb to try to win them back. 


If you can.

Diversity is Key to Creative Teams

One of my best lessons learned was when I was speaking to a client of mine who was looking at moving to a different position in the federal government. He wanted to expand his horizons and learn new skills. As the government looks to be an increasingly diverse public service, one can identify themselves as a visible minority. I asked my client "Would you identify yourself as a visible minority?" to which he replied "Donna, I'm brown. Haven't you noticed?" and continued..."You are colour blind. That's great from one perspective but at the same time, remember we shouldn't ignore differences and make everyone 'the same', we should celebrate the difference and bring them all to the table."

I have never forgotten that conversation. I look at each person as someone unique who brings a specific flavour, unique skill set and perspective to the table. I also know, that diversity brings a richness to the conversation that can't exist in an organization or team that is a sea of sameness.

In his article Why Diversity is the Mother of Creativity, Jeffrey Baumgartner talks about "The best thing you can do is to diversify your thinking" and "It is essential that your people are diverse in background, education, knowledge and experience".

Sameness just doesn't cut it.This really does bring home how we're 'better with, not better than".

Holidays in Out of Awareness Places

Yesterday I loved reading about my friends' Thanksgiving celebrations on Facebook and Twitter. Some of what was shared was so vivid I almost felt as if I was invited into their homes to share the laughter, conversation and myriad of culinary favorites. Last night on the news I watched Missions and helping organizations serve dinner to those who are struggling so they could have a bit of Thanksgiving celebration. Then I wondered why no one was sharing the in-between stories of celebrations in places you might not know of. Not hospitals, missions, or nursing homes. Those we hear about. I'm talking about places like Ronald McDonald Houses.

For many years we spent most holidays in Ronald McDonald House in Norfolk, Virginia. As we tried to schedule as many surgeries and pre and post surgical appointments for my son over school breaks, usually that meant Xmas, often Thanksgiving, summer breaks and most other holidays when he would miss as little school as possible. Most of our holidays over about 17 years were shared with other families living at the House at that time.

No matter where you live and might see a Ronald McDonald House, as they're in many parts of the world, from outside you see a building that has something to do with sick kids and a place to stay. Walk through the doors and you'll see it's much more than that. The people inside, the staff, House mother, and other families become your family for the time you're there. It's a place where we gathered, talked about our challenges and fears, and shared what we learned with other parents and kids. From visit to visit, we'd continue the conversations as if we'd never been away. The moment we walked through the door it was into open arms for a giant hug and welcome.

If we were there over a holiday, no matter for what religion, we helped decorate the House. Xmas time at RMH was magical. Every square inch of the place was decorated, animated and glowing with light. Donations of food would come from all over, sometimes filling the fridges and freezers to overflowing so the families could come back from the hospital to a meal ready to be warmed. We shared family stories with the others and watched the kids play as if there was nothing wrong in their worlds. I remember all the holidays we spent there and many of the people we met, some whom I worked with over time.

I will never forget how at home they made us feel and how loved and supported we were no matter what we were going through nor will I ever forget the little munchkins who would crawl all over my lap while they played. I know they're looking down on us from some better (for them) place.

Now that Xmas is about a month away, I'll ask you to think of this....

If you can't figure out what to get someone who seems to have everything, places like Ronald McDonald Houses always has a wish list; everything from towels to food. Do as I do and for clients, make donations in their names. If you have a House in your neck of the woods, call them and see what you might buy for the House that won't break your bank but that will make a difference. Remember that there are many, just as we did, who are spending their holidays away from home, family and friends. It's not paying it forward, it's giving forward.

A Great Day

So my friend and working partner in crime John sent me a video of The Black Eyed Peas live in Chicago from September 2009. Now I love the song they sing on the video but what caught my eye was the crowd. I observe people for a living and something was different here. I leave it to you to check it out so you understand what I mean.

Thing is, after watching something like this, how could it not be a great day? This is contagious. Forward it to many so they can experience the energy and 'attitude' of this huge crowd in downtown Chicago. 

May your day be great and to all of you south of the border, Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Planet as 'a Limited Condition'

I was watching Carter Emmart's 3D atlas of the universe on TED.com for the umpteenth time. Something about it, other than the obvious, keeps me coming back to watch it again and again. He speaks about understanding out planet as a limited condition. We have finite resources available to us and yet, in many instances, we have to be told how to use them wisely as we haven't yet figured out that they will run out soon enough. 

Looking at this video what comes to mind is how small a speck in the universe each of us is and yet, one person can change the world even one person at a time. Collectively we are powerful. One person saying "Who am I to change the world?" can also impact others if them in turn step back and let other people do what has to be done to ensure a sustainable world. People are our most valuable resource. If we lead through a sense of humanity, we will thrive and if we lead trying to have power over others, we won't. This video is a reminder that even though the world is so much bigger than each of us, it's what houses and nourishes us all both as a physical planet and by the people who inhabit it.