Critical Success Factors for Virtual Teams
February 12, 2025
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The global virtual teams are characterized by team members located in different geographies and time zones with information and communication technology tools as the only interface for them to interact. The virtual teams offer unique challenges. In order to overcome these challenges and unleash the creativity and potential of all the team members, the leader of the virtual team have to adopt a blend of the three leadership styles - transactional, transformational and situational.
Research studies indicate that the leadership style has greater effects on the productivity of virtual project teams as compared to that on the traditional collocated teams. This finding makes it essential for all the virtual team leaders or managers to revisit their leadership approach for an effective virtual team.
A global virtual team leader should have high levels of techno-socio-emotional capabilities and should be able to strike a perfect balance between the following three leadership styles and create a distinctive approach to manage multi-cultural, multi-lingo, multi-geographies and multi-time zone member team.
Leader should also be sensitive to the different cultures. This should reflect in this approach towards managing the members’ motivation to work and communication styles. For example, an American worker finds pay/status as motivating while a Japanese worker attach more value to harmonious and non-ambiguous work situations.
Thus we see there is no one-size-fit-all leadership style when it comes to managing virtual teams. The virtual team leader has to adopt an approach which is a fine blend of all the above discussed styles. This discussion acts as guiding principles for effectively managing virtual teams.
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