Spot and Solve Virtual Project Challenges BEFORE They Spiral!
Virtual project teams face some unique challenges, and it can be tricky in the digital space for project managers to spot them.
When you know what hurdles to be aware of, you can put proper solutions in place, lead your virtual project teams more effectively, and keep your digital projects on track.
Challenge: Lack of Team Bonding
A lack of team bonding can lead to low levels of trust, morale, and motivation on a project. That’s why you need to be very attuned to how your virtual team is bonding – or not. The success of your virtual project depends on it.
In the absence of in-person opportunities to connect, focus on creating ways for your team to bond in the virtual space. This is especially crucial if you have a global team.
Try sparking group conversations at the start of your project where you ask team members what they’re most excited about; it can be a great way for people to connect. Scheduling other quick team-building exercises throughout the virtual project lifecycle can also help to keep team bonds strong.
Challenge: Communication Barriers
Our words only convey a small part of what we actually mean. Much of what we communicate comes through our body language and non-verbal cues and in the virtual space we have to work a little harder to read those signs.
That’s why one of the most crucial things on a virtual project is to get everyone on camera during meetings. After all, you wouldn’t hold an in-person meeting in the dark!
It’s not enough to hear what our team members have to say. Being able to see them helps us to understand how they feel at any given moment, which can help us move more quickly through any disagreements or miscommunications.
More Virtual Project Challenges
There are a few more key things to pay attention to when working with virtual project teams and I run through them in my latest video. I also dive into some more detailed solutions aimed at helping you spot and solve virtual project challenges long before they spiral out of control. Follow me over to YouTube to learn more!
Want to lead every project to success – whether it’s virtual or not? Make sure you check out my SLAY Project Management course where I give you all the templates, tips, and techniques to implement to SLAY all your projects.
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
