ABSTRACT
This chapter reinforces communication principles and collaboration technologies, blending task-related and social communication to lead virtual teams in a way that keeps the team on target while providing individual support. Tools facilitate communication that is task driven and interpersonal, face-to-face and digital, human to human and human to technology. The virtual leaders help people gain confidence in their relationships and skills so they can function effectively and trust each other. Most virtual team members begin with enthusiasm for virtual work. They want to work with a highly competent group of trustworthy, reliable folks who gel as a team. Motivating engaged team members takes expanded emotional bandwidth. Virtual teams have a more difficult time seeing themselves as a whole that holds common ground. Shared experiences keep teams connected and feeling part of each other.
