(List updated: Feb 2024) The following is a list of around 60+ technology tools that you can use to manage your virtual team. To keep things simple, I've categorized the tools into 10 different functional categories. However, keep in mind that those categories are loosely defined, and one tool can technically belong to more than one category (because of overlapping features and frequent tool updates). Note: None of the links below are affiliate links, so feel free to click away :) 1. ... Read More
6 Tips for Virtual Team Managers from “REMOTE: Office Not Required”
I just finished reading Jason Fried’s and David Heinemeier Hansson's latest book “REMOTE: Office Not Required” and thought it was a great primer about working remotely. The book focuses mainly on why companies should consider shifting to a remote workforce if they haven’t already. So if you are not already sold on the idea that having a virtual team is better for you, your employees, your company’s profits and the environment, then this is a must read. The book also discusses how Jason and David ... Read More
The 3 Types of Responses to Questions: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Nearly every single response to every single question I’ve ever asked someone in a meeting, phone call or email can be classified under one of three categories: one’s good, the other’s bad, and the third’s ugly. The good is when someone answers the question first, and then gives additional information afterwards. The bad is when they do it the other way around. The ugly is when they never answer the question. Here’s a visual to explain the difference. Here’s an explanation of why you need to ... Read More
Japanese Perfection and Why You Need to be Specific in Your Requests
I’m reading a book called “Reframing Organizations” by Lee Bolman & Terrence Deal (Jossey-Bass, 2008) for an Organizational Behavior course I’m taking and I came across a hilarious section which refers to an encounter between two companies in the 1970s or 1980s. The first is an American company which needed ball bearings and the second is a Japanese plant that made them. Here’s what apparently happened: Although the book’s main point was more about the difference in company standards ... Read More
8 Interpretations of Silence when using Instant Messaging
I use Instant Messaging (IM) a lot in my job to manage my team and connect with friends. I love it because I have the unparalleled advantage of multi-tasking different conversations with so many people at once. Of course, it does have a few drawbacks, but overall, I still think it’s a valuable tool in the arsenal of online communication – particularly for couch managers. However, there is one pet peeve that most individuals share when using online chat: Silence I’m not referring to the natural ... Read More