A Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams - Hardcover

Zofi, Yael

3.67

51 ratings by Goodreads

9780814416594: A Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814416594 ISBN 13: 9780814416594

Publisher: Amacom Books, 2011

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Maximize the power of teamwork — even when team members are worlds apart. With an increasing number employees working remotely, it is more difficult than ever to ensure that team members are working smoothly and productively together. A Manager’s Guide to Virtual Teams is a practical roadmap for bridging the logistical, cultural, and communication gaps that can prevent any virtual team from reaching its full potential. The book explores the four most critical elements to team success: � Trust and Accountability. Ten tips for creating trust within and across virtual teams � Communication. The particular challenges of the virtual world, especially in cross-cultural collaborations � Conflict Management. Examples, case scenarios, and resolution strategies � Deliverables. How virtual teams can get their work “out the door” faster and better A Manager’s Guide to Virtual Teams features the author’s proprietary Trust Wheel model, which includes powerful tools to help teams develop and ensure trust without face-to-face interaction. Filled with self-study exercises, activities, and advice based on the author’s 20 years’ consulting experience, this book can help any organization realize the promise of professionals working closely together—even if they’ve never met.

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Book Description:

With an increasing number employees working remotely, it is more difficult than ever to ensure that team members are working smoothly and productively together. A Manager’s Guide to Virtual Teams is a practical roadmap for bridging the logistical, cultural, and communication gaps that can prevent any virtual team from reaching its full potential. The book explores the four most critical elements to team success:

� Trust and Accountability. Ten tips for creating trust within and across virtual teams

� Communication. The particular challenges of the virtual world, especially in cross-cultural collaborations

� Conflict Management. Examples, case scenarios, and resolution strategies

� Deliverables. How virtual teams can get their work “out the door” faster and better

A Manager’s Guide to Virtual Teams features the author’s proprietary Trust Wheel model, which includes powerful tools to help teams develop and ensure trust without face-to-face interaction. Filled with self-study exercises, activities, and advice based on the author’s 20 years’ consulting experience, this book can help any organization realize the promise of professionals working closely together—even if they’ve never met.

From the Author:

Virtual interactions are on the rise. We are all working with people we don't see - just think of online banking, online shopping, etc...

How many of you work with people, everyday, whom you've never met?

How many of you work with outsourced teams?

What are the biggest obstacles for managers who work with team members who don't work in the same place anymore?

With people working virtually on all continents, creating communication mechanisms, establishing a community and maintaining productivity is the biggest challenges of the 21st Century. For the last two decades I have searched for answers to these problems. And I believe that it is urgent now more than ever because of the fundamental shift in how teams operate today.
In my work with virtual teams across cultural boundaries, I often work with global leaders, project managers and team members to set up mechanisms for: (1) regularly connecting team members with each other, and (2) creating a process for virtual 'Water Cooler' conversations to help build trust and engage with people even though they cannot be there in person - so the 'out of sight' does not mean 'out of mind'.

Now, years later, I have helped many clients in similar situations develop solutions - many ideas are incorporated in my book. I took a step further and interviewed 150+ virtual managers/members, and their stories come to life in the/my book -- each one emphasizing the human connection in a cross-cultural world. The exercises, scenarios and action plans that are the heart of the book provide a roadmap for successfully leading a VT. There is no other book that offers such practical advice - written in a realistic 'common sense' manner.
Whether you're managing an international project, or you've hired a vendor in another state, you are working in a virtual situation.

I hope that you will read A Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams and use it to help you and your clients navigate this brave new world and bring success to your ventures, whether your team members are across the hall, across the street, or on the other side of the world.

Thank you, Yael Zofi

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