Virtual Teams

We all know by now what a Virtual Assistant is, but there is a new entrepreneur on the virtual scene, the Virtual Team. Virtual Assistants have been around for a few years now, so it’s only natural to start seeing variations of that business professional. One of those variations is the virtual team.

A virtual team is a number of Virtual Assistants with complimentary skills who are committed to the goals of a team and for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. The team consists of the VAs with the right mix of skills to do the job assigned. The teams’ performance and goals go together. They develop a common approach to how they will work together to achieve their purpose and hold themselves accountable for the projects outcome.

Virtual teams make a lot of sense if you know how to build and lead one. I’ve had the opportunity to build and lead more than one Virtual Team. I’ve even certified with one group. A well developed virtual team is like a network organization. The team should be put together with the following in mind. The structure of a well put together virtual team is; Project Team manager, Team leader, putting a team charter in place, using a work flow chart and using a reasonably priced project management software. Communication is vital to the success of a virtual team. Not only should there be, at least monthly, communication between the client and the project manager, but also between the project manager and team leader who in turn communication with the virtual team on a regular basis. Following these simple guidelines can be the difference between managing a successful or a failing Virtual Team.
Large and small corporations alike, have teams of employees who were hired to do a specific job, so why not a virtual team. Each Virtual Assistant has advanced knowledge of the services and technology they have acquired, or are proficient in, and bring that to the virtual team. Whether it’s a service or software application where you are certified, which a lot of VAs are today, or if you have years of hands on fundamental experience, Virtual Assistants working together as a team is an exceptional and innovative idea.

I know many times I’ve gone looking for work by checking out the RFP’s at a few of my virtual associations only to find a perspective client is looking for two or three services that I offer and an additional three or four that I don’t offer. This is where a virtual team comes into play.

Clients can delegate projects to a Project Team Manager, who in turn will put together a team. A large team for a large project and a small team for a small project. Virtual teams give clients the assurance that not just one person is doing all of the work, thus allowing for a better finished product. A good Project Team Manager will make sure that each team member has a back up in place. Clients save time and money on recruiting, interviewing, and assembling the team.

Remember, you still have all of the perks of working with a Virtual Assistant, no overhead. VAs have their own office space, equipment and software. I think most VAs will be working on virtual teams in the very near future.

So, to reiterate that old saying; “Two (three, four, five) heads are better than one.”
Think Virtual Teams.