Working Virtually [op]: Managing People for Successful Virtual Teams and Organizations

Virtual working is a fact of life as companies manage teams of individuals dispersed on sites across the country or around the globe; take increasing advantage of improving technology and software to telecommute and teleconference; and begin to think about the human element in disaster recovery. The key to successful dispersed working is not technological expertise, but a clear understanding of what it takes to get the enterprise ready for virtual work, and of the skills for bonding individuals into cohesive, high-performance teams across distances and differences. This book provides that guidance - through work charts, vivid "composite" examples, definitions and actual cases - and shows how the technological tools support and expand the options for collaboration. It answers such critical questions as "What makes working virtually work?," "How do we start?," "How do you develop new leaders in a virtual environment?," "What skills do virtual managers and team members need?," "How do you determine how ready they are?," "Which technologies are most appropriate for your purposes?," "What's the impact on existing systems and structures?" This book is an indispensable practical guide and reference for virtual team leaders, HR managers, CEO's and trainers. It will also be suitable for professional certification and business courses in organizational development.

About the Author :
Trina Hoefling has been at the forefront in the field of remote management training, leading with the message that "Technology is the enabler, but People are the key." Trina is an organization development and transformational change consultant, graduate school professor and master teacher, strategic facilitator, leadership coach and virtual team collaboration expert. A noted author and speaker, she is also a contributing chapter author in The Handbook of High Performance Virtual Teams, "The Three-Fold Path: Building Trust in a Virtual Team." Trina is an accomplished thought leader who has never lost her passion for helping people and organizations grow. She especially enjoys being an online learning engagement facilitator, coach and shadow consultant to support today's career professionals, teams and committed organizations.

Review :
"This is a tremendous book. It is substantive, well-researched, conceptually sound and practical, all at the same time. If you want the handbook for building, implementing and sustaining virtual teams and work groups, buy this book."--William E. Schneider, Corporate Development Group, Inc., and author of Reengineering Alternative "This is both a very practical and comprehensive guide to the factors that contribute to effective virtual teams. It offers a solid primer in the collaborative tools currently available. The great utility of this book is its pragmatic, cookbook approach to putting the human and organizational structures in place that will enable a virtual team to succeed; and in explaining why these structures are important."--Carol Willett, Executive VP for Learning and Innovation, Applied Knowledge Group, Inc. (www.akgroup.com) "Working Virtually brings the growing world of 'distributed work' into a strategic perspective. Trina Hoefling not only highlights the important distinctions between virtual workgroups and virtual teams, but also provides detailed practical steps and tools for implementation and management. It provides a bridge across the chasm. This is a book the CEO should read first...then pass along to all key managers."--David P. Mead, President and CEO, TSI Services, Inc., a Telecommuting Consulting and Training Services firm "Trina Hoefling's insights, recommendations and easily implementable nuts-and-bolts checklists will help transform the most entrenched bricks-and-mortar organization into a telecommuting-ready enterprise. Working Virtually lets us all see just how do-able, productive and rewarding the virtual work environment can be."--Jennifer J. Johnson, Founder and Chief Virtualist, Johnson & Company, The Virtual Agency(TM) "An enlightening book! Trina Hoefling has helped me better understand how we can effectively and efficiently work virtually. She has a gift of communicating in a compelling and practical manner that inspires one to action. This is a must read book for anyone considering a virtual work environment."--Robert A. Garcia, Director, International Truck and Engine University "[Hoefling] understands the importance of preparing the actual work process and begins the book with an in-depth analysis of the trust and the systemic considerations necessary for success. The book does not simply provide generic instructions and then leave you out to dry. [It] works on the premise that a virtual team can have the cohesiveness to equal, if not surpass, existing productivity levels present in a person-to-person office."--Colorado Woman News "Managers involved first hand with off-site employees will find Hoefling's advice and checklists most useful."--Publishers Weekly "A practical guide to help organizations prepare people, systems and structures for a smooth transition or expansion into a virtual environment...[including] telecommuting, virtual conferencing, e-learning and other applications. Her book includes information on how to develop a virtual work environment and how to build and manage virtual teams."--Denver Business Journal "The book has a huge number of practical tips and tools. It provides many tables and lists that will be extraordinarily helpful to anyone responsible for implementing or managing a team. Working Virtually is an invaluable resource for the law firm assessing virtual effectiveness, and for any firm wanting to support virtual teams."--Law Practice Management "How are you going to guide, coach, and evaluate your team when you lay eyes on them just four times a year? Take a look at Working Virtually."--"Ask Annie" column, Fortune Magazine "A how-to guide on implementing and sustaining virtual work teams in the organization."--Canadian HR Reporter