Keith & Kay Seabourn

Patrick Lencioni wrote a brief but very insightful perspective on leading virtual teams. He introduces the topic with:

When I speak to audiences about teamwork, one of the most frequently asked questions I get has to do with managing groups of people who are geographically dispersed, a.k.a. virtual teams. This surprises me a little because the topic, as well as the solution for addressing it, is certainly not very sexy.

He says the key is to avoid making three mistakes.

1. The first mistake that virtual teams make is underestimating the challenges of being dispersed. Because e-mail and voicemail and texting and instant messaging have become so second nature, we too often assume that a team member’s physical location makes little difference in the effectiveness of the team.
2. The next mistake that virtual teams make is wasting the precious time that they do spend together. Too many virtual teams utilize their quarterly or monthly in-person sessions engaging in social activities, somehow believing that this is how the team will bond. While social time is okay, there should be a focused and organized attempt to build relationships in the context of the work that needs to be done.
3. The last mistake that virtual teams make is failing to master an event that is one of the most loathed and underestimated of all corporate activities: the dreaded conference call. What teams have to do—and I told you up front that this is simple and unsexy—is make a serious commitment to one another that they will maintain a high standard of behavior during conference calls, even higher than they would for an in-person meeting.

What are your experiences leading from a distance?

Have you used Instant Messaging or Chat during a meeting, as an official part of the meeting? We are using invisible whispering in meetings and it really helps. We are finding that this really helps in several ways.

It helps meeting participants improve their understanding of the meeting content. Participants ask clarifying questions, and peers can respond. Points can be clarified. Facts can be checked for accuracy.

It helps keep people focused during the meeting. Interacting with others can help the group accomplish its work. People stay engaged with the content.

It helps provide social support to help quieter members “speak up” through contributions in the IM/Chat. Confidence is bolstered. Especially in a multi-lingual environment, some participants feel more confident when they can type out a question or comment and review it before sending it to others.

It provides direction in the meeting. If several participants are agreeing in the IM/Chat, the meeting content may be influenced. The direction of the meeting may change.

It allows for a parallel meeting within a meeting. Problem-solving or strategy development may launch among some participants in response to information received during the meeting. Participants may even critique the meeting resulting in improved meetings.

Our experiences so far have been good. We’ve used a Chat room. We’ve used a joint Skype session. What about you? Good experiences? Bad experiences?