Comments on: “Virtual Teams” are the future…How to keep them on track ! http://www.AgilistaPM.com/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/ Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Donna Reed http://www.AgilistaPM.com/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Donna Reed Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:24:15 +0000 http://donnaareed.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/#comment-140 Hi Phuong - There are millions of us dealing with Virtual Teams. It is all about COMMUNICATIONS !!! I've been the Product Manager leading Software Development teams that were located in Asia, USA multiple cities, Europe, India....all on the same project. By using a Team Operating Agreement - or basically agreeing on how we will communication with one another - pick tools that helped us IM, Talk, Video Conference, Share Desktops, etc......it became tons more easier. The only challenge left was timezones. My teams today are 100% virtual - all over USA - doing Application and IT projects. Again, we agree on how to communicate, and communicate often, we use Agile techniques and get tons done together. What do you do? Hi Phuong –

There are millions of us dealing with Virtual Teams.
It is all about COMMUNICATIONS !!!

I’ve been the Product Manager leading Software Development teams that were located in Asia, USA multiple cities, Europe, India….all on the same project. By using a Team Operating Agreement – or basically agreeing on how we will communication with one another – pick tools that helped us IM, Talk, Video Conference, Share Desktops, etc……it became tons more easier. The only challenge left was timezones.

My teams today are 100% virtual – all over USA – doing Application and IT projects. Again, we agree on how to communicate, and communicate often, we use Agile techniques and get tons done together.

What do you do?

]]> By: Phuong http://www.AgilistaPM.com/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/comment-page-1/#comment-134 Phuong Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:51:59 +0000 http://donnaareed.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/#comment-134 Hi Donna I do this by heart - I do contact people (ring/chat/email) when I feel that's the right thing to do. I can't answer your questions, even I have tried to think why I do what I do. It would be great if you could share your experience with me. Thanks, Phuong Hi Donna
I do this by heart – I do contact people (ring/chat/email) when I feel that’s the right thing to do. I can’t answer your questions, even I have tried to think why I do what I do. It would be great if you could share your experience with me.

Thanks,
Phuong

]]> By: Donna Reed http://www.AgilistaPM.com/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Donna Reed Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:59:18 +0000 http://donnaareed.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/#comment-21 @Phuong - Sounds like you've been here as many times as I have. You have to spend time with each person - get to know them...there is no easy way around this. And you ask them one on one - in private....what was it that made you react like this? They will tell you if you've built trust with them. Trust comes only from them knowing you treat and care for them as a person - not just a worker to do the job. This is one of the reasons I strongly support Agile methods - they are bringing back the fact that employees are "people who have needs - feelings - value".... That is also why PM's are "leaders" and not just paper pushers -- if you want a team, especially a virtual team to perform -- you have to get to the people and build that trust with everyone. How have you done it? @Phuong – Sounds like you’ve been here as many times as I have. You have to spend time with each person – get to know them…there is no easy way around this. And you ask them one on one – in private….what was it that made you react like this? They will tell you if you’ve built trust with them. Trust comes only from them knowing you treat and care for them as a person – not just a worker to do the job.

This is one of the reasons I strongly support Agile methods – they are bringing back the fact that employees are “people who have needs – feelings – value”….

That is also why PM’s are “leaders” and not just paper pushers — if you want a team, especially a virtual team to perform — you have to get to the people and build that trust with everyone.

How have you done it?

]]> By: Phuong Skovgaard http://www.AgilistaPM.com/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Phuong Skovgaard Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:15:51 +0000 http://donnaareed.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/keeping-virtual-teams-on-track/#comment-20 Hi I can't agree more. I've established a PM Office of 16 PMs from US, UK and India (I'm in the UK). The section above matches wekk to what I have done, just wonder how you identify their trigger in making them react in this manner (bullet point 3 - Seek 1st to Understand). This has taken me long time, in some cases I doubt if I ever get the right trigger, as people has moved on...... Regards, Phuong Hi

I can’t agree more. I’ve established a PM Office of 16 PMs from US, UK and India (I’m in the UK). The section above matches wekk to what I have done, just wonder how you identify their trigger in making them react in this manner (bullet point 3 – Seek 1st to Understand). This has taken me long time, in some cases I doubt if I ever get the right trigger, as people has moved on……

Regards,
Phuong

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