Keeping Project Teams Connected in a Positive Way

Working collaboratively on projects has its challenges. It can be difficult enough when you are on a project team that occupies the same work site. But when you are connected only virtually, the problems for you and your project are multiplied.

Over and over in project post mortems, we hear of the misunderstandings that occur and grew…simply because project members did not follow a few simple guidelines for communicating across the miles.

Be sure that your next project with virtual team members adheres to these recommendations for keeping connected in a positive way:

1. Agree upon next steps out loud or in writing. Will you communicate next on the phone or via email? When? Who will initiate the communication? What will you hope to accomplish in the interim?
2. Do not leave your co-worker hanging. How do you feel when someone doesn’t respond to your call or email? You suspect they don’t value the relationship. Be sure that you get back to your team member right away…even if only to say that you will respond in more detail at a specific time. Especially if you are working across time zones, short delays can slow down the progress of the entire project.