by James Skay, Jr.
Global Indirect Marketing Intern, SAP
Working on a virtual team boils down
to trust. It’s trusting that your team finds you competent and dependable, and
that when you’re on a virtual team “working from home,” you really are working from home. It’s no
small task to establish trust, but once you do, working for a virtual team is
just as good as an in-person gig, if not better.
When you join a virtual team, you
first need to demonstrate your responsiveness and resourcefulness. They go
hand-in-hand when a manager or coworker makes a request and you’re not really
sure what they mean, or how to handle it. As opposed to an in-person dynamic,
you can’t just pop by their office to clarify, and you really only get two or,
at most, three clarifying emails before your team relegates you to the B-squad.
Whenever someone makes a request, really think it through and put all of your
questions in ONE email. Before you send that email, make sure you’ve checked
the network and corporate portal to see if you can find the answer on your own.
Also, try and accomplish these resource tasks quickly, to demonstrate the
simple fact that you are on your computer, working hard.
There’s a strategy to your
Facebook persona and Twitter handle, and establishing your online presence at
work requires the right tone and timing, especially when you never see your
co-workers. I was surprised by the sheer amount of emoticons my team uses, but
when you don’t know someone’s sense of humor, they’re a necessary evil. Whatever
you do, don’t be sarcastic in writing (even if you do put a smiley face after
that zinger J).
In the beginning of your virtual
tenure, try to show who you are with some pictures or little stories, but only when the team leads the way. If
everyone is having a serious email discussion, and you show a picture of your
cat Muffins rolling on floor in her favorite spot of sunshine, there will be
eyebrows raised. However, if your manager or VP sends pictures of their kids’
Halloween costumes, send yours right back. Take part in the sociability, but in
the beginning, play it conservative until you’ve established some professional
credibility.
Once your responsiveness,
resourcefulness and amazing personality are shining through, then you can really
start to make your mark. Remember that clarity in writing will be a, if not
the, differentiating factor for your success in a virtual team. Amidst the
hundreds of emails sent each week, make sure all of yours are clear, well
written and polite. It may seem like a small thing, but nothing ruins
credibility faster than misspellings, poor grammar or just poor writing. It’s
not Shakespeare, but it’s not texting either.
