ABSTRACT
A manufacturing plant that produces spray deodorant recently reorganized into self-directed work teams. The reason: several team members face distractions during virtual meetings. One group member has an elderly parent living at home, and the parent often interrupts the team to ask for things in an obvious bid to get attention. An important assumption of virtual group coaching is that, when people work together through technologically assisted means, the nature of that interpersonal interaction can change. Virtual group coaches work with technology-enabled or blended teams to improve group dynamics and group process. The steps of virtual group coaching are the same as those with traditional process consultation. The biggest problems cited with remote work included getting away from work, loneliness, communication, home-based distractions, time zone challenges, remaining motivated when working alone, and using vacation time. Few employers provide worker subsidies for working from home.
