Tag: teamwork

Virtual Teamwork How to Make It Happen

Virtual Teamwork: How to Make It Happen

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Working from home does not mean that you would always carry out tasks or projects individually. Though you are not connected physically to your co-workers, there would also be instances that teamwork has to be done.

With the rising number of employees working online, teamwork is becoming more prevalent and a matter that has to be sustained in companies. Otherwise, goals would not be met at all, leading to losses, both in terms of business reputation and monetary value.

Virtual assistants or remote workers are simply connected through e-mails, messaging platforms, and video conferencing. Despite this, there are still various ways to make teamwork happen the easy way. Specifically, these means are mostly directed to every remote worker’s work ethics. Here are a few to consider:

Do not cut off communication. As mentioned earlier, remote workers are simply connected through e-mails, messaging platforms, and video conferencing. Hence, without using any of these, no communication would be done. There would be no relay of tasks, clarification of concerns, and even exchange of ideas.

If you are working in teams, communication should always be open. Your lines should always welcome questions and even occasional touch base with one another.

Communication is critically necessary to ensure that teamwork could be done and maintained. Without it, even issues that have to be discussed among team members would not be addressed. This leads to misunderstandings, affecting the overall output of activities.

Help one another no matter the position. In teams, it is expected that there would be pioneers and neophytes. In this situation, the former should always be lending a hand to the latter, not only during training but as they continue growing in the organization. Not simply because you are experienced enough in what you do, you would expect the newbies to perform as well as you do. You should never look for yourself in others. Be an inspiration instead to produce more people that would benefit the company.

On the other hand, even if you are just new in the organization, you should not take advantage of the fact that your superiors would always guide you. You should also have the initiative to learn the way of things and make yourself helpful in your own ways. Being short in experience does not infer you should slack off, as well.

Respect each other’s space. Indeed, it is necessary for team members to always communicate with another and be with each other. However, virtual assistants should also have their own space at times.

To make things simpler, one should also respect the fact that each remote worker has designated tasks to carry out. By implication, you must never expect anyone to be there always when you call them or reach out to them. There would be instances that your team member may need to finish his or her part in the project. Never let insensitivity take over you. Lack of response or distance for some time will not always mean that your team member is neglecting you.

Never practice credit-grabbing. Teamwork means every member’s success is everyone’s success. Regardless of how much you have done for a certain project, you should never demand an individual recognition. Be reminded that everyone is equally important despite differences in contributions.

Always remember that if you are in a team, you would not be able to race until the end without your members. Instead of dwelling on your individual gain, be thankful that you have people behind your back as you grow professionally. It is much easier when you learn from and work with others. When you work in a group, you may even gain more skills as your team members share their experiences and knowledge with you.

Always remember that two are always better than one. No matter how skillful you are, there are matters that you cannot carry out alone. Moreover, your ideas are not always the best ones. In other words, it is always beneficial to get more insights from people around you.

As a good example, in completing a software development project, the features you could add may be further improved if you will welcome input from team members. Remember, there are details that you may not spot, but others can. You may think that your user interface design is already friendly for the younger generation since you belong in the age group, but what about the older generations? This is when opinion from your team members belonging to older age groups would definitely help.

By applying the provided ways to make teamwork happen, you would be able to reap its benefits to the fullest. You will not simply obtain work-related success in every project you will handle, but you may also gain friendship in the long run due to the congruous work ethic you portrayed.

Understanding: What Does It Mean for a Remote Worker?

Understanding: What Does It Mean for a Remote Worker?

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As a remote worker, it is a common practice to simply exchange e-mails or make phone calls with your employer and team members. Some virtual staff even find it odd whenever they face a lot of calls in a position that should not require much of it. For instance, they are required to attend various meetings with suppliers, customers, and partners of their firm among others.

The aforementioned situation may be the reason why there are cases in the remote work industry that call for better understanding among professionals. When you say understanding, it means you have to look at a bigger perspective. It is not simply what you comprehend on the e-mails you have received or hear on the calls you are getting.

One good example is when a co-worker denied to assist you with an urgent project. You have to remember that simply because a message implying rejection was sent to you, the said team member takes things personally. For example, he or she does not simply want to help for you are new in the company. This is not the case most of the time. As mentioned above, you got to look at the situation in a different light. Possibly, your co-worker is caught up in an urgent task, as well, which resulted in him or her not being able to help. Moreover, due to the pressing importance of his or her activity, he or she failed to explain the situation well enough.

This is where understanding would come in. If you practice understanding towards your co-worker, you would never think negatively right away. You will consider other possibilities in the picture. Be reminded that prejudice is not often welcomed in a team, especially a virtual one. With the limitation of simply being able to coordinate via messages or calls, you do not tend to see your team member the whole time. You do not see him or her working on his or her tasks or making haste to meet deadlines. In truth, you will be deluged with tons of possibilities, which would most likely be false instead of true.

The same goes for your employer. Being a company owner or an executive imposes a lot of responsibilities. If he or she fails to assist you or answer your inquiry right away, this does not entail that he or she is showing a lack of care for his or her employees. Take note that this could connote that he or she is attending meetings or working on more important matters in the company.

To gain the said trait of understanding towards your employer and co-workers more effectively, you have to mull over the fact you also go through what they experience while working. It is simply a give-and-take process. If you are in their shoes (having to rush and work on critical activities), letting go of possibilities to support or communicate with your team members due to pending assignments, they would likely understand your situation and give you space, as well.

The most beneficial result when all people in an organization practice understanding is the lack of rift. Harmony would be maintained and there could be a more personal connection to one another. With the build-up of good relationships in a company, there will always be a promising success onward.

Remember, it is all about widening your view of the situation. Let understanding rule your thinking before being assumptive.

Why Teamwork Should Mean No Credit-Grabbing?

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Even in the online industry, there will be cases that you would work with a team. Despite the lack of personal interaction, be reminded that you should still initiate teamwork. Otherwise, you may end up suffering from consequences, which could be as serious as losing your job.

When working with a partner or a team, you should remember that the client considers you as one unit. Thus, regardless of the differences with your tasks, you will likely be considered liable for the failure or success of your team members. Apparently, you have the obligation to check on your colleagues, as well. Take note that each of you has a contribution to make. It is not all about you. Even if you are done with your part, there is no project completion unless your other team members meet their requirements.

Credit-grabbing is a workplace disease that one should steer away from. Indeed, it may look good that you finished first or that you are the sole member, who managed to handle your tasks effectively. Still, this does not imply that you have the right to say that the success of your project is due to your efforts. Be reminded that as a team, you should have at least offered your assistance to your team members, who are struggling to finish their part.

No client would think that you are good enough if you ended up brushing aside your team members’ need for help, despite them not voicing it out.

Furthermore, take note that in a team, the success of one is an achievement for all. This should be a sufficient encouragement for you to ensure your team members are doing well.

Your client has his or her discretion if you are better compared to your team members. If your purpose of showing off is to climb up the ladder, kindly take note that your employer can assess a person’s capability. It is also better for you to show professionalism and care for your colleagues, which are pluses for your reputation score. A client is more critical in an employee’s personality than his or her skills. Why? Apparently, you cannot always train someone to be a good co-worker. Most of the time, it just comes out naturally from a person.

If you are confident that you are good enough with what you do, make it a reason to share your knowledge and guide your team members. This will make you a better employee.

Stop the habit of competing for yourself when in teams for this would only lead to your downfall. Instead, start appreciating the pleasure of working with people when everyone’s concern is each member’s welfare.

Traits That a Virtual Team Member Should Possess

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Virtual assistance is not limited to working alone or carrying out tasks for your client individually. There will be cases that you need to work in teams. Thus, you need act as a team member and cooperate accordingly. Nonetheless, being a part of a group does not entail that you will simply handle your tasks and you are done. There are traits that you should possess in order for you to contribute well to the success of your team’s project. There is more to just receiving instructions and doing them.

In order to enlighten you, given below are the traits you should possess as a team member:

Open to Communication. You should note that even in team work, communication is a foundation for success. If you are not communicating well with your co-members, you may end up not understanding what exactly you have to do. Alternatively, they may not be aware of your concerns.

There should be exchange of not only instructions, but suggestions, propositions, and criticisms in a team. This is critical, particularly in a setting wherein all of you are working remotely. Relatively, you only depend on calls or messages to ensure a certain project is accomplished.

Friendliness. If you are too stoic, you may give an impression that you do not want to work with your team members. There is nothing wrong with establishing friendship with your co-members. In truth, this is your means to ensure that everyone is comfortable with one another, making your work more bearable, regardless of the pressure around.

Highly Professional. There will always be a possibility that not all of your team members will have the same perspective as you do. This implies that you have to be understanding at a greater extent, which can be synonymous to being highly professional. You are not meant to argue and win a discussion. Your goal is to stick by what is right and accept your mistake, should you commit one, minus the heated arguments.

Instead of simply focusing on your own beliefs, you should also put yourself in the situation of others. This is when you will have a better view of what is best for all of you as a team.

Benevolent in Sharing Knowledge. If you have been in the workplace longer than the others, you should be kind enough to assist and impart your knowledge to others. Remember, in teams, one’s success is everyone’s. If you will keep your skills to yourself, you may end up impairing the possibility of your team to carry out tasks effectively.

Whenever your team members are asking for your opinion or guidance for a certain task, do not neglect them. Instead, consider it your responsibility to train them.

On the other hand, if you are a new member, accept the learning being channeled to you. This is regardless of how skillful or experience you think you are. Note that one environment could be different from another.

Blunt. As mentioned earlier, criticisms are also exchanged among team members. Thus, if you want your co-members to improve, do not be afraid to voice out your concerns regarding their inefficient workplace behavior or need to better their skills.

In return, you should also let your team know that you are open to receiving negative feedback regarding your work. This will create an atmosphere of pursuing growth and learning rather than competition among your team members.

To sum all the points provided above, a quote from Henry Ford would definitely be ideal:

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”