Virtual Team Success – A Practical Guide for Working and Leading from a Distance

<p>List of Tables, Case Studies, Figures, and Exhibits xi</p>
<p>Acknowledgments xv</p>
<p>Foreword xvii</p>
<p>Introduction xix</p>
<p>Section One: Building High–Performing Virtual Teams 1</p>
<p>Chapter One: Why Virtual Teams Fail 3</p>
<p>Key Challenges 6</p>
<p>Four Pitfalls to Virtual Team Performance 8</p>
<p>Conclusion 12</p>
<p>Chapter Two: Profiles of Virtual Team Success What Good Looks Like 15</p>
<p>Team Composition 15</p>
<p>Communication and Training 19</p>
<p>Leadership 24</p>
<p>Conclusion 25</p>
<p>Chapter Three: Virtual Team Launch Kit 27</p>
<p>Test Your Virtual Team Launch IQ 27</p>
<p>Setting Virtual Teams Up for Success 30</p>
<p>Is Your Organization Prepared to Support Virtual Team Work? 49</p>
<p>Conclusion 50</p>
<p>Chapter Four: What Differentiates Great Virtual Teams How to RAMP Up Your Team s Performance 51</p>
<p>What Differentiates Top Virtual Teams? 51</p>
<p>The Shingle Seal Standstill: How Would You Handle It? 57</p>
<p>RAMP Up Virtual Team Performance 60</p>
<p>Conclusion 78</p>
<p>Section Two: Leading Virtual Teams 81</p>
<p>Chapter Five: How to Lead Virtual Teams Tips, Techniques, and Best Practices for High<br />Performance 83</p>
<p>Challenges Virtual Team Leaders Face 83</p>
<p>Raygen Company Slump: How Would You Handle It? 88</p>
<p>Virtual Team Leadership Self–Assessment 91</p>
<p>What Makes an Effective Virtual Team Leader? 92</p>
<p>Obstacles at a Glance: A Quick Reference Guide 107</p>
<p>Conclusion 110</p>
<p>Chapter Six: What Factors Really Accelerate Virtual Team Performance The Four Top<br />Performance Boosters 113</p>
<p>Taking Virtual Team Performance to the Next Level 113</p>
<p>Conclusion 129</p>
<p>Chapter Seven: How to Facilitate High–Impact Virtual Meetings Techniques That Really<br />Work 131</p>
<p>The Facilitator s Role 132</p>
<p>V–Meeting Checklist 134</p>
<p>Building a V–Meeting Agenda 134</p>
<p>Keeping Virtual Meetings on Track 136</p>
<p>Dealing with Other Common Challenges 140</p>
<p>Conclusion 142</p>
<p>Conclusion: Six Lessons for Successful Virtual Teams 147</p>
<p>Lesson 1: Focus on People Issues 147</p>
<p>Lesson 2: No Trust, No Team 148</p>
<p>Lesson 3: Soft Skills Are Essential 149</p>
<p>Lesson 4:Watch Out For Performance Peaks 150</p>
<p>Lesson 5: Create a High–Touch Environment 151</p>
<p>Lesson 6: Virtual Team Leadership Matters 152</p>
<p>Closing Thoughts 153</p>
<p>Appendix: On Point s Global Virtual Team Study 157</p>
<p>Notes 173</p>
<p>About the Authors 177</p>
<p>Index 181</p>