“How to build trust in virtual groups,” is a question many group leaders face at some point. This is particularly true for larger teams, where one member may be trying to do too much while the rest of the group scrubs the floor or sit in meetings. When trust is built in virtual groups, the group’s momentum picks up and they start making faster progress.
Here are 11 tips for building trust in virtual teams…PEACEKeeper. This software tool automates the entire group management process, from meeting planning to team building, from scheduling to feedback management, from reporting to activity management. Peacekeeper. This group management tool helps you manage multiple remote teams collaboratively. Collaborate on all projects, not just the one you lead.
8. Be careful what you say. “Don’t tell them what to do” is one of the top tips for building trust in virtual teams. Avoid “feeding data” to your virtual associates… show them what they have to do.
7. Be careful what you say about other people. Another top tip for building trust in virtual teams is to make sure you say nothing negative about others, especially those whose view you are questioning. Make sure you clearly communicate your expectation of the project team members. Do not assume that you can control the project team members’ emotions.
6. Learn how to be positive. When it comes to building trust in virtual teams, you have to learn how to be positive with people, no matter what. It is so easy to focus on problems or failures of the other members of the team and blow up in their faces.
5. Communication is key. The best way to build trust in virtual teams is by clear and open communication. If you cannot communicate your expectations, and expectations to your remote team, then you will never get the results you want out of the project. When you are not clear in your communication, you create potential misunderstandings, which lead to a lot of frustration and a lack of collaboration between you and your remote associates.
4. Don’t make promises you cannot fulfill. When it comes to building trust in virtual teams, you must make your intentions and promises clear from the beginning. You have to tell the team what you want, and ensure they know exactly what you expect from them. If you make a promise, and you do not keep to it, you will end up getting nowhere fast.
3. The power of presence is powerful. To understand how to build trust in virtual teams, it is important to understand presence. Presence means being in the mix of the virtual team, in the mix of interactions with team members, even in the background. When you create that feeling of trust, it creates an atmosphere where the other team members trust you, too.
This is probably the most important thing to remember when it comes to how to build trust in virtual teams. In essence, you must become part of their daily lives and make yourself seen. You cannot create this aura of trust by simply creating a profile on project management websites, or sending e-mails offering job offers and opportunities. There are many other ways to get into their space and make them feel like they know you, but first, you must become a part of their daily life. Once you have done that, your efforts to build trust will go far, and you will find that your remote team members really do trust you. this podcast on virtual teams.
