The Meeting Coach
InterCall's Monthly Newsletter

Practical Tips That Will Help Your Remote Teams
New research offers advice that you can use today.

In a world of new, fast-paced technologies, building complex teams that must effectively communicate from remote locations is no easy task. Most managers find handling dispersed teams extremely challenging, and there is a constant need to bridge the communication gap. Unfortunately, as a team continues to grow in size, members tend to work in silos.

But, by using the right technology, and therefore improving collaboration efforts, you can create a harmonious working environment within a virtual world. A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive revealed insightful results regarding the use of technology and tools among collaborative teams. Take a look at which ones contributed most to team success:

• 75% email
• 21% shared network folders
• 19% teleconferencing
• 18% voicemail

Think about it. How often does your team use these tools to collaborate? Do they present any obstacles to team collaboration? If so, how much time is spent overcoming them? While web tools, like email, play a significant role in delivering updates and materials, many have found that utilizing audio, web, and/or video conferencing offer more effective ways to improve communication. They allow you to instantly come together, share information and make quick decisions.

When key organizational players take an active role in implementing and practicing the best collaboration efforts, most remote teams can sustain the inevitable complexities that arise. Here are a few tips you can follow to improve collaboration:

• Encourage executives to set the example for employees and exercise collaborative behavior internally.
• Work with your human resources team to train employees on the specific skills and available tools required for effective collaboration.
• Develop strong internal relationships. When developing new teams, team leaders should make certain at least 20-40% of the members already know one another to ensure a seamless transfer of skills across business functions or units. Small teams can remain intact instead of reshuffling individual people into new positions.

InterCall’s services can help you achieve these things. Give audio conferencing, web conferencing or video conferencing a try! Sign up for a free trial of InterCall Web Meeting, our new integrated audio, web and video conferencing service and register for free training to learn how to use interactive features.