Communicating as a Member of a Virtual Team

Name: Communicating as a Member of a Virtual Team
Author: Brielle Plump

Learn how you can communicate effectively in the digital working world

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 5 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

There are many reasons why teams may be working in a virtual environment. By understanding team dynamics and each individual's changing roles, you'll be able to communicate and make connections through the different phases of team building and collaboration. Just like any other team, digital teams have communication norms and members of the team may be assigned different roles. For example, some virtual teams who use video conferencing rotate note takers, the person chosen is playing a role and has a specified task during the video conference that might be different from their overall role on the team or in the organization. Every team interaction in the digital workspace will have different norms. For example, the way you communicate in an email first thing Monday morning, is different than how you express yourself on a Friday afternoon. All team members have different roles which will influence those norms. For instance, managers and directors likely communicate differently than their employees. And those differences are also dependent on the method used for communicating. Keep in mind that some potential issues could occur in virtual teams, such as pressure to respond to emails and deliver work faster, the extra workload of documenting tasks and following up on conversations, working outside of the nine to five window and feeling on call. Taking video conference calls that display your personal space, managing work-life balance and the possibility of miscommunication when virtual team members are located in areas with different time zones, customs, and dialects. Each of these issues vary from team to team and should be directly addressed by team leaders so that members of the team know what to expect. You can point out these issues during orientation training or more casually as the team evolves. Because the methods of communication will vary and change on a virtual team, it may take some time to feel comfortable while you navigate how to most effectively communicate with your teammates.

Beginner Provider : Brielle Plump 5 Lessons · 10m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

This module covers how you can best communicate as a member of a virtual team. It discusses remote politics, the linear model of group development, member-role life cycles, and etiquette for interacting and engaging with your colleagues during team video conferences.

What You'll Learn

Understand the remote politics of online work
Learn the five stages of Tuckman's linear model of group development
Identify the member roles in group life cycles
Apply etiquette for interacting and engaging on team video conferences
Use practical tips for virtual team communication

Key Takeaways

This module covers how to best communicate as a member of a virtual team.
It discusses remote politics, the linear model of group development, member-role life cycles, and video conference etiquette.
Tuckman's linear model of group development consists of five stages.
Effective virtual teamwork includes etiquette for interacting and engaging with colleagues during team video conferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this module cover?

It covers how you can best communicate as a member of a virtual team, including remote politics, the linear model of group development, member-role life cycles, and etiquette for interacting and engaging with colleagues during team video conferences.

Who is this course for?

It is designed for members of a virtual team who want to communicate more effectively in remote and online work settings.

What model of group development does the course teach?

The course teaches the five stages of Tuckman's linear model of group development.

What lessons are included?

The lessons are Understanding Remote Politics, Linear Model of Group Development, Life Cycle of Member Roles, Interacting and Engaging on Team Video Conferences, and Tips You Can Use Right Now.

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