Managing virtual teams?
Find the right tools to make collaboration easier
The key to managing virtual teams is finding the right tools. You and your independent contractor form a virtual team. Even if you have an employee who works in your office, allowing them to go virtual can add flexibility to their work lives, which then improves their overall work life balance. Here are a few tips for finding the right tools:
Find the best project management software
One of the best solutions is a web based project management software called Basecamp. This software allows you to brainstorm ideas using an online whiteboard and also allows you to communicate via messages with your contractors and your clients. Each party in a particular conversation receive email notifications of updates. Even better, you can login at any time to see if there are updates. And everything is kept on the Basecamp website for you to access anytime, anywhere. Click here to examine this project management software tool.
Videoconference tools
Virtual team communication sometimes depends on being able to see the other person to be reassured that the message is getting through. Consider using Skype for talking to each other over the internet. Skype is becoming the go-to software for video conferencing, as it can be used over the internet, is free to download, and can be used on both PC and Mac platforms. Click here to explore this videoconference tool.
Web conference services
Web conference services allow you to train or conduct meetings online — and these could range from seminars, training or product demonstrations. Each person is connected to other participants via the internet and "talk" to each other via software or a web-based application. In essence, you can chat in real time, see everything the other person is presenting simultaneously. The primary solutions for setting up an online meetings are software like Webex or Go to Meeting. You may find Webex is more suited for corporate use, while Go to Meeting suits small business use more, as it's pricing is more manageable. Go to Meeting also has the reputation of being much easier to use and set up. Curious? Explore more about web conference services here.
Teleconferencing
This is when talking is best for the project with more than two people. It still has the same limitations of voice only, but you are able to have multi person discussions and even have the call transcribed. Check out Freeconference.com which allows you 3 free hours before you pay for their services.
Set up an intranet
An intranet is a website for internal company use. It doesn't have to be fancy. It can even be a hidden page on your public website where you upload documents that are relevant to the project. Let your contractors have the URL, so they can download files from you needed for the project. You could also set it up where the page is password protected, so that if you switch contractors, your data is protected.
Effective virtual team collaboration can be enhanced by making sure that all communication is clear and organized. While verbal communication may seem easier, written communication is more professional and more easily tracked. The tools you use are up to you, depending on the project, your familiarity with the technology or even, your budget.
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