“Teamwork is fundamentally social.”
As we live and work in unprecedented times, we have access to a variety of technological tools that allow us to continue to collaborate with our colleagues even though many of us are working remotely. Below are a few basics we suggest for any business seeking to organize a virtual team.
1. Lock in a cloud file sharing program
This is a MUST for virtual teams! Using a cloud service through which to share documents is extremely helpful for any business. Services like Dropbox and Box.net allow for automatic updates on documents, so that when you make edits your co-workers can see them immediately. Cloud file-sharing allows you to edit and access the exact same documents as your co-workers, thereby eliminating the stress of constantly emailing updated documents and trying to keep track of flash drives.
2. Sign up for a virtual office
Virtual team members tend to be geographically scattered, which can present a problem when deciding where to establish an official business address. Your budding business may not have a physical headquarters, but a virtual office can help you acquire the professional business address, phone number, and meeting space you need to get started.
3. Explore corporate social networking
The key component of any successful business is clear and concise communication. As social media continues to dominate information sharing, why not use a similar multi-directional approach to facilitate communication amongst your team? Programs like Slack enable you and your colleagues to remain in constant communication throughout the day with a quick message and file sharing process. Other services like HubSpot provide options for managing and tracking social media content and engagement across all platforms.
Have tips to share or comments on this list? We encourage you to share them here!
