(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
2 Simple Steps to Follow After Your Project Kickoff Meeting
Congratulations! You've successfully navigated through your project kickoff meeting and set the stage for a successful project. But your job as a project manager doesn't end there. In this final section, we'll delve deeper into the critical steps you need to take after the meeting to ensure that the positive momentum continues and your project stays on track. Step One: Send an Update A day or two after your meeting, and after you've had the chance to clean up your meeting notes, it's time ... Read More
15 Steps to Take During Your Project Kickoff Meeting
Project kickoff meetings are pivotal events that set the tone for successful project execution. As a project manager, your role during this meeting is crucial, as you bring together cross-functional team members and stakeholders to align their efforts towards a common goal. In this blog post, we'll provide a step-by-step guide to conducting an effective project kickoff meeting, ensuring that everyone is motivated, engaged, and ready to take on the challenges ahead. Step One: Welcome and ... Read More
5 Steps to Take Before Your Project Kickoff Meeting
A well-executed project kickoff meeting sets the stage for a successful project by aligning stakeholders and establishing clear objectives. In this blog post, we will explore the key steps to take before, during, and after your project kickoff meeting. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and productive start to your project. Step One: Draft the Agenda A comprehensive agenda is the backbone of an effective kickoff meeting. It provides structure and outlines the topics to ... Read More
I’m Speaking at “International Project Management Day 2020” about Virtual Teams
The International Institute for Learning (IIL) is hosting an online conference called "International Project Management Day 2020" (IPM) and I'll be speaking about "Influencing Virtual Teams: 5 Best Practices for Success" to help project managers be more successful at their job. The live opening day with keynotes will be on Thursday, November 5, 2020. You can also watch all the on-demand videos between November 6, 2020, and February 7, 2021. If you're interested in attending, the great ... Read More
Tips for Better Productivity as a Remote Worker
The traditional workspace that we have come to know throughout the 20th and early 21st century has become a thing of the past. More businesses than ever are transitioning to a predominantly remote workforce and moving away from buying or renting costly office space for employees. Through the evolution of software and corporate communication capabilities, the need to interact in-person is becoming obsolete by the day. Although many industries still rely on face-to-face interaction when ... Read More
Top 5 Reasons Why a Remote Collaboration Project Fails
Small business owners can cut costs by hiring work-from-home employees, while large enterprises may choose remote workers so they can hire the best of the best no matter what country they live in. Still, other companies offer remote work options to long-time employees as an added job perk. Yet managing remote employees and projects has its own unique challenges—including security issues, managing different time zones and quality collaboration. Even an experienced manager may struggle ... Read More
“Effective Delegation of Authority” is out on Amazon ($0.99 for a limited time)
My latest book, Effective Delegation of Authority: A (Really) Short Book for New Managers About How to Delegate Work Using a Simple Delegation Process, is now published on Amazon and is available for only $0.99 for a very limited time. The book hit the Amazon #1 Bestseller list in three different categories: Office Management, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and Small Business Franchise. Here's what a few folks are saying about it. So many managers fail at delegation, a core ... Read More
How to Stop Unwanted Behavior Without Sounding Rude [Video]
In an HBR article entitled "A Simple Way to Be More Assertive (Without Being Pushy)," Professor Andy Molinsky references an assertive formula from a book called People Skills book by Robert Bolton. It's a great formula that will help you stop unwanted behavior by a colleague without sounding rude. Check out the video to learn all about that formula and how you can use it in the workplace. Learn more: Read my "Influencing Virtual Teams" Amazon best selling book Subscribe to my ... Read More
9 Trust Building Activities for Virtual Teams
One of the primary prerequisites for any successful virtual team is to establish trust among your team members. This post will give you simple and easy to implement trust building activities that will help you build a solid level of trust within your team. Let's start with what trust actually means. What is trust? Here’s one definition: Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. (from Merriam-Webster) Although this is a ... Read More