Technology has made so many amazing things possible, and remote working is one of them. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, it’s now possible to assemble a virtual team of members distributed all over the world.
Many startups have even relied on such to launch and sustain their businesses. For every other successful one out there, you can bet that they’ve got a Filipino virtual assistant on their team.
This isn’t to say that remote teams aren’t without their challenges, of course. The Philippines has some of the best remote workers in the world, true. However, it does take time and a bit of a learning curve to build an awesome team.
We’ve got plenty of articles on the subject, and you can read them here and here. So, today, we’ll be talking about how to tell if your efforts have been successful. In other words, what does an awesome virtual team look like? What traits are its members likely to exhibit?
1. A Focus on the Bigger Picture.
Effective virtual teams have a global rather than a local orientation, which helps create an environment of respect for different cultures and customs. This then enables the other members to go all in for the team, allowing them to take ownership of the products or services they come up with together.
2. Strong Shared Responsibility.
The members of strong virtual teams are driven by a sense of purpose that goes beyond fulfilling a job for pay. Proper compensation is still important, of course, but once that is in place, they’re free to internalise their part in the company’s mission and to uphold an effective collective effort to achieve organisational objectives.
3. Open and Honest Communication.
Remote work relies heavily on effective and frequent communication. You can’t exactly walk up to each other in an office, so it’s crucial to nip any misunderstandings or miscommunications in the bud.
The most effective remote workers are thus responsive, communicative, and cooperative. When resolving issues, they focus on behaviors rather than personalities and communicate in a straightforward manner rather than beating around the bush.
4. Deliberate Coordination.
Filipino remote workers understand the importance of frequent communication, especially when they’re working asynchronously with their clients. As a result, they constantly coordinate with their colleagues and clients at set times to keep everyone up to speed.
5. Proficiency in Using Technology to Collaborate Effectively.
Every virtual team member can effectively and efficiently use emails, instant messaging, project management applications, among other things, to touch base with other members and to get stuff done – correctly and on time.
6. Stable and Effective Conflict Resolution Practices.
Even the best virtual teams aren’t immune from the occasional dispute. When you aren’t communicating face to face often, miscommunications can inevitably arise.
In an effective team, leaders and members recognize this. Therefore, they actively engage early on to resolve such misunderstandings and to prevent these from escalating into lengthy and destructive confrontations.
7. Consistency in Producing Deliverables Within Reasonable Deadlines.
Getting things done when your colleagues are scattered all over the world is challenging enough. Getting them done on time and within budgetary constraints can be even more so.
The best teams, on the other hand, are able to make a comprehensive effort to align their schedules and individual components to consistently meet deadlines. Given enough time and experience, such collaboration becomes second nature to them.
8. Compassion.
This might sound all gooey, but don’t forget that healthy working relationships are key to remote work. And a critical component is humanity among the members involved.
There could be times when the team might have to pick up the slack for a member or two. An emergency might arise. A natural catastrophe might befall your teammate’s part of the world. They could encounter problems at home requiring prolonged attention.
In times like these, a bit of compassion would go a long way. Rather than assigning blame or pressing a presumably embattled colleague, effective teams work towards a solution that ultimately helps everyone.
Here at Remote Staff, we value the individuals that make it to our rich pool of outsourced talent and understand that their work ethic and loyalty are what makes fulfilling and productive working relationships possible. So, we go to great lengths to nurture them and support them so that they will do us proud whenever we assign them to our valued clients.
If you want to know more about outsourcing to the Philippines or if you’d like to experience the benefits of a great virtual team for yourself, click here to schedule a callback, and let’s talk.
Serena has been working remotely and writing content for the better part of the last decade. To date, she's written for Pepper.ph and Mabuhay Magazine, among others, and has churned out more than a thousand articles on everything from The Basics of Stock Market Investing to How to Make Milk Tea-Flavored Taho at home. Hermits, aspiring hermits, and non-hermits with interesting project propositions may email her at serena.estrella10@gmail.com.
