Working in a Virtual Team
Using Technology to Communicate and Collaborate
Marissa is a skilled professional who works as part of a virtual team. Her teammates are all highly competent, and she enjoys being part of a diverse and intelligent group. However, she finds the virtual side of her work challenging.
She collaborates closely with a few colleagues but has found it hard to build relationships with other teammates. Many of her co-workers are located in different countries, and they rely heavily on email, instant messaging (IM), and video chat to communicate.
She has often caught herself jumping to conclusions or misinterpreting emails, and sometimes the division of labor and project expectations are unclear. As a result, team interactions can be strained and unsure, and conflicts have arisen.
If you're part of a virtual team, then Marissa's situation may sound familiar. Virtual teams are commonplace. But, while they offer flexibility, increased job satisfaction, and higher productivity, virtual teams also come with a number of challenges that can undermine goals, relationships, and team effectiveness.
In this article, we'll look at how you can work successfully in a virtual team.