17 April 2014

LEADING DISPERSED TEAMS | A Tuesday night with Lolly Daskal (April 15, 2014)

Every Tuesday evening from 8pm to 9pm EST, I participate in a Tweetchat with Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Founder of #LeadFromWithin, and Author of  "Thoughts Spoken From The Heart" Lolly Daskal.

The #LeadFromWithin Tweetchats are insightful, thought provoking, and generate genuine conversation. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Twitter members join the conversation every Tuesday night. You should join us and if you are already following the #LeadFromWithin tweetchats then you know.

Each week, it is a different topic. Over the course of the hour our host, Lolly Daskal, will post 10 questions related to the topic. Every question ends with the hashtag #LeadFromWithin.

Every tweetchat participant is encouraged to respond to each of the questions. The responses are UNIQUE, INSIGHTFUL, and INSPIRING!  You have to read them (well, as many as you can) as they go flying by on your Twitter feed.

I invite you to join us every Tuesday evening for the tweetchat and throughout the week be on the lookout for the Twitter hashtag #LeadFromWithin

On the evening of Tuesday, April 15, 2014, the topic was “Leading Dispersed Teams”

Here are the Questions and my Answers. Enjoy!

Q1. What is a dispersed team? #leadfromwithin
A1. Group of individuals with same objective operating together but from various locations (down the hall/across the planet) #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: A dispersed team does not have to be across the country to be dispersed. They could be down the hall or two buildings away. No matter the distance, the issue is that the team members are part of a team and must work to achieve that common goal.

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Q2. What are the challenges with a dispersed team? #leadfromwithin
A2. Lack of crystal clear communication. Misinterpretations and Miscommunication can run rampant #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: The biggest challenge is also the easiest to overcome. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is a must for not just the leader but every member of the team.

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Q3. Identify some strategies for managing dispersed teams? #leadfromwithin
A3. Site visits (works for Starbucks), secret shoppers, on-demand video conferencing (open door policy) #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: The leader needs to show up where the team members are. Yes, it means travel and yes it means taking the time to shake their hand. Yes, this strategy is worth it. If you have an open door policy in the office, then shouldn't that same opportunity apply to the remote team members? Have a web cam attached to your PC to have those desktop-to-desktop video conferences. Think outside the box if you have to but ensure that they know you are there for them no matter where they are.

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Q4. What elements do team members have to have in a dispersed team? #leadfromwithin
A4. Able to deal with "last to know" syndrome and able to stay on task with minimal supervision #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: Team members have to be flexible in all aspects of working as part of a dispersed team. They also have to accept the fact that there will be some inherent difficulties with being part of a dispersed team. These difficulties can be overcome but not before they become an inconvenience before those issues can be addressed.

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Q5. Why is team’s purpose important for dispersed teams? #leadfromwithin
A5. It helps keep all team working on the “same sheet of music” #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: Keeping the focus of the mission and vision of the team is essential to achieving the goals of the team no matter where they are. Therefore, as the leader it behooves you to ensure that those you lead are completely aware of the vision and mission of the team.

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Q6. How does trust play into dispersed teams? #leadfromwithin
A6. It is all about trust. If there is no trust then why bother creating dispersed teams #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: There can be no doubt that you trust your people. There can be no misunderstanding as to the amount of trust you place in the people you are dealing with. Lastly, if the trust is broken you might have to rebuild that trust from scratch. So never let the trust falter.

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Q7. If Feedback is important how should feedback be articulated in a dispersed team? #leadfromwithin
A7. The articulation of feedback should be done with pulling absolutely no punches. No sugar coating as well. #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: Feedback has to be honest and genuine. Distance should never be an excuse for half-assing the comments, feedback, or concern. Distance is a factor only by those that want to make it a factor.

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Q8. To make a dispersed team feel like a connected team you need to? #leadfromwithin
A8. A connected team needs only one thing: to feel that they belong. #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: Every team member, no matter where or who they are, must know that they are valued and that they belong with the team. This is an unfortunate by-product of a dispersed team. They start to doubt that they are being kept in the loop. So go out of your way to ensure that all members know and understand just how much they are valued and most certainly belong on the team.

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Q9. How is leading a dispersed team different from leading a team where all members in the same location? #leadfromwithin
A9. There should be no difference, aside from travel to site(s). Treat them the same and hold accountable the same way. #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: Leading a dispersed team should never be different than when you lead a team in the same building. Changing the way you do business with dispersed teams will mean that you have to run two different teams and that is NOT a good thing. You have to stay focused on one operation; one cohesive and informed operation.

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Q10. What kind of leader do you need to be in a dispersed team? #leadfromwithin
A10. Just Be A Leader. That's the kind of leader you need to be to lead a dispersed team. #leadfromwithin
COMMENTS: There should never be any fancy tricks, no smoke and mirrors when it comes to leading a dispersed team. Just be yourself, be a leader and the rest will take care of itself.

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Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

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