Geographically separated employees and managers find it hard to align expectations of roles, responsibilities and goals. Why building relationship is so hard? What you should do or recommend? Saving Changes...
I often work with remote, global projects teams where I never have the opportunity to meet members in-person. I try to reduce the "virtual-ness" of the team by keeping a world map of time zones and pictures of team members on my wall. This helps during phone calls so that I can properly greet him/her (saying good morning or evening as appropriate ); I can be respectful of the time if a meeting is in danger of running over (so as not to extend into evening hours if his/her time is ahead of me); and I can more easily visualize the people I am interacting with during the call.
A research study reported that a smile can be "heard" over the phone. It's easier for me to have authentic emotions when I can see my audience. Even when not on the phone, the pictures serve as a constant reminder that I am part of a team and give a presence to my remote colleagues. I feel my meetings are more engaging when I have the visual reminders in my line of sight than when I am in a conference room.
An alternative would be to use videoconferencing, but there are technology limitations sometimes. Occasionally I also find it distracting.
I also suggest to ask the team about preferred communication style. I have worked with people who prefer to communicate via SMS text for updates and quick questions and others who frequently used an instant /chat messaging system to be part of the day to day work of the project.
These suggestions may help with the communication, but some of your issues may be differences in the working culture. If that is the case, you will need to understand the differences, also.
I often work with remote, global projects teams where I never have the opportunity to meet members in-person. I try to reduce the "virtual-ness" of the team by keeping a world map of time zones and pictures of team members on my wall. This helps during phone calls so that I can properly greet him/her (saying good morning or evening as appropriate ); I can be respectful of the time if a meeting is in danger of running over (so as not to extend into evening hours if his/her time is ahead of me); and I can more easily visualize the people I am interacting with during the call.
A research study reported that a smile can be "heard" over the phone. It's easier for me to have authentic emotions when I can see my audience. Even when not on the phone, the pictures serve as a constant reminder that I am part of a team and give a presence to my remote colleagues. I feel my meetings are more engaging when I have the visual reminders in my line of sight than when I am in a conference room.
An alternative would be to use videoconferencing, but there are technology limitations sometimes. Occasionally I also find it distracting.
I also suggest to ask the team about preferred communication style. I have worked with people who prefer to communicate via SMS text for updates and quick questions and others who frequently used an instant /chat messaging system to be part of the day to day work of the project.
These suggestions may help with the communication, but some of your issues may be differences in the working culture. If that is the case, you will need to understand the differences, also.
Thanks Romiya Saving Changes...
Dominic LawProduct Manager| PCCW GlobalHappy Valley, Hong Kong
The communications technology is advancing all the time, now with instant messaging and video conference, very soon even with virtual reality. But frankly it never beats meeting someone in person, shaking his/her hand, to build the relationship. I would suggest to meet that person at least once to build up a strong relationship. And that could be the reason business travelers are still growing in numbers!
However, aligning expectations of roles, responsibilities and goals is more than relationship!
The communications technology is advancing all the time, now with instant messaging and video conference, very soon even with virtual reality. But frankly it never beats meeting someone in person, shaking his/her hand, to build the relationship. I would suggest to meet that person at least once to build up a strong relationship. And that could be the reason business travelers are still growing in numbers!
However, aligning expectations of roles, responsibilities and goals is more than relationship!
- Meeting from time to time in person.
- Frequent interatction via phone.
Thanks Rami Saving Changes...
Ganesh SrinivasanGanesh PMO (PMP, PMI-SP, ITIL-F)| MNC BankChennai, India
Excellent post anupam and replies from Romiya, Dominic, Rami were ultimate.
I feel in person visit is best, if it is not happening it needs to be offset with good quality phone calls, not just asking status, but also greeting and well wishing to built the rapport and trust and good relationship.
No point in just taking calls once in a week like systamatic schedule way, some element surprise should be there and on Fridays bring some fun :) have virtual game by splitting the team :)
nothing works like good relationship !!
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