(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
Hybrid Work Live Webinar: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 at 12pm Eastern
On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 9 am Pacific Time (12 pm Eastern Time), I'll be speaking about how to build and manage a hybrid workplace [Update: The webinar is now published and is available on-demand. You can watch the recording by clicking here.] This is a free webinar organized by Udemy business where I'll discuss a 4-part framework that includes analyzing, planning, managing, and evaluating your hybrid team's work model. If you'd like to join me, click on the following ... Read More
Three (More) Team Building Activities for Remote Teams
This is a guest post by Brian Thomas from Enlightened Digital, and covers a few additional team building activities for remote teams to the ones I’ve covered previously here. Remote work is becoming the new normal amongst companies with the capabilities to do so. Whether you have been with your company for a year or two months before quarantining, it can still get lonely in your home office without the constant bustle of office life happening around you. For new hires, it can be even more ... Read More
Quick tips about Managing Remote Teams (plus other thoughts)
I usually publish random thoughts about managing remote teams, communication and leadership on LinkedIn. Those thoughts are usually based on an interesting experience or conversation I had, or on something I recently read. So I thought I'd consolidate the last few posts and share them here. On Sending Confidential Emails If you're sending a confidential email, it's a good idea to: Use an ambiguous subject line (and type "Confidential" as a prefix)Avoid referencing the topic ... Read More
6 Advantages Of Virtual Teams
The freedom to work from anywhere while still having a full-time job is a perk that many employers use to draw the best talent. This is just one of the many advantages of virtual teams. To understand why remote teams are so desirable, here are a few more pros of moving out of a physical office. The Six Advantages of Virtual Teams 1) Potential Employees are Everywhere When an office is located in a specific city, employers and managers often have to convince their prospective ... Read More
6 Challenges Of Virtual Teams (and How to Avoid Them)
While some companies have built their organizations remotely, others are just starting to consider to make virtual teams and management work. From measuring productivity to building an “office” culture, many tasks are conducted differently when there is no physical office to work from. There are both pros and cons to having a virtual team, so let’s dive into some challenges of virtual teams that managers may face. The Six Challenges of Virtual Teams 1) Equipping Your Team With the ... 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
The Future of Remote Work: What to Expect in 2020
The past decade has witnessed incredible growth in remote and flexible work opportunities. As 2020 draws nearer, it’s evident that remote work opportunities are here to stay and will play a larger role in how businesses and people accomplish their work. A recent report, which mapped the popularity of remote work from the early 2000s onward, reveals just how impactful off-site work opportunities will become in the new decade. In 2017, for example, 4.7 million people telecommuted for their ... Read More
Tara Powers on her “Virtual Teams for Dummies” Book
Tara Powers is the author of "Virtual Teams for Dummies," a book that should definitely be on your bookshelf if you're interested in remote work. Tara never really intended on writing a book, but Wiley (the publisher of the "For Dummies" series) reached out to her after she published articles on LinkedIn, asking her if she would be interested. On the latest episode of my podcast, "Writer on the Side", I talk to Tara, where she shares the story of how she wrote the book, some ... Read More
How to Use Gamification to Develop Stronger Remote Teams: 6 Powerful Strategies
Moving to a remote work model is a great way to minimize your overhead costs and enlist the best talent, but it comes with its own distinct problems. One of the most prominent is creating a sense of culture and drive within your company. With your workers spread throughout the world, the workday can often seem detached and isolated. But one way to remedy that issue is to employ gamification. By turning objectives into competitive and collaborative games, you can engender a sense ... Read More