Published on: Thursday, September 15, 2011

You�re Teleworking. Are You Camera-Ready?

Posted By: Robyn Greenspan
Filed Under: robyn greenspan, teleworking, videoconference, skype, virtual presence, virtual teams, leadership brand, virtual leadership, remote workforce

Comments (3)

While working from home recently, a colleague called to let me know he was ready to start having our remote meetings via Skype but was having some trouble getting the app up and running on his home computer.

I immediately ran into my bathroom, fixed my hair, dusted some bronzer on my cheeks and applied lipstick — while simultaneously talking him through how to download and launch the app.

In just those few minutes it took him to deploy Skype and video-call me, I was camera-ready.

Looking good for videoconferences is just one small challenge for remote workers, which is expected to grow to more than one-third of the world�s workforce in the next couple of years. At this rate, it's practically inevitable that managers will be leading virtual employees — or whole teams — and finding new ways to interact and drive performance. Yael Zofi, in her book A Manager's Guide to Virtual Teams, outlines eight successful behaviors of high-performing remote work groups:

Employees have a global, big-picture mindset
There is shared responsibility for achieving goals
Open, trusting culture
Meaningful communication
Information flow across several communication channels
Conflict management mechanism
Systems that produce on-time, on-budget deliverables
Employees have a positive attitude

If you're the one who is off-site, it's important to remain visible, establishing your "leadership brand" and building relationships within the organization through a virtual presence. David Clemons, in Managing the Mobile Workforce, co-authored with Michael Kroth, writes, "...everyone has a personal virtual brand, a personality that comes through the mobile lines, through the Internet, through the SMS and Webcasts. Your 'virtual you' follows you and your reputation is built." The perception of your "virtual you" will determine whether others follow your leadership.

Good leaders overcome the limitations of technology and make their presence felt — through video, pictures, on-site visits, personally connecting with others, being proactive, and becoming known in a positive, authentic way.

What techniques or tips have helped you work remotely or manage off-site employees?

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Robyn Greenspan's avatar Robyn Greenspan
Robyn Greenspan is the Editor-in-Chief at ExecuNet, where she is responsible for setting and driving the editorial content engagement strategy across the private business network's publications and expert-led programming. She is also a Huffington Post blogger. You can follow her on Twitter @RobynGreenspan

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Posted by Robyn Greenspan
09/19 @ 08:39 AM

Notable comments, Elizabeth and Steven. I find Skype (or any videoconferencing system) forces the participants to stay more focused and engaged in the conversation. It has become all too easy for us to multitask when on the phone. Also, even technology-enabled eye contact is more intimate than a disembodied voice or words typed on a screen.

Posted by Steven Tramz
09/16 @ 04:54 PM

While Skype is wonderful, the built in system that Apple has works the same way. I am retired now, but made motion pictures and television shows, and worked in Production. We used this Mac system for script meetings, read throughs, and production meetings to keep producers in the loop who couldn't be on location for our meetings. Questions and followups are taken care of immediately with Video/Skype or Video calls through Mac. This is a great tool that speeds up communications. The drawbacks? When this tool is used, people often hide their agenda's and discuss them later when the whole world isn't watching. Also, for some reason, people tend to 'PERFORM" rather than be themselves, so you don't get a true read from them on their problems or questions. Private meetings are still the best way to move ahead, rather than in groups.

Posted by Elizabeth Howard
09/16 @ 11:06 AM

Robyn, one of the other aspects of this is having a good backdrop and space for them to see you in as well. My current desk is in my bedroom (temporary) and when I Skype, if I'm not careful, friends and colleagues can see my headboard in the background! Good thing I always make my bed! Something to think about when deciding where to put your home office space.