{"id":9085,"date":"2022-01-31T17:15:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T13:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/?p=9085"},"modified":"2025-03-12T17:43:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T13:43:41","slug":"leading-virtual-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/leading-virtual-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading a Virtual Team for the First Time? Here are 12 Tips to Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re leading a virtual team for the first time, you may be feeling overwhelmed. And we’re here to tell you that this is <\/span>completely<\/span><\/i> normal. Virtually leading a team comes with unique challenges that take time, planning, and experience to overcome. But don’t worry! That’s why we’re here. We’ll share our best recommendations to help you lead a virtual team in this post.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are virtual teams?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hybrid. Remote. In-office. As we transitioned to different models of work during the pandemic, we’ve seen many new terms emerge. But these words can be confusing\u2014and the definitions tend to vary from company to company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So before we get started, we want to clearly define what we mean by virtual teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virtual teams<\/b> are typically made up of individuals who either work remotely or in different geographical locations. The most defining characteristic of virtual teams is that they work entirely through online platforms\u2014whether that\u2019s Zoom, Slack, or Asana (or all of the above!)<\/span><\/p>\n

So while remote teams can also be virtual teams, both terms are different from <\/span>hybrid teams<\/span><\/a>, which refers to a model where some employees work in the office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The challenges that come with leading virtual teams<\/span><\/h2>\n

Of course, there are difficulties that come with any leadership position. But virtual teams present unique challenges\u2014and being aware of them can help you better understand how to overcome them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Less visibility<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the biggest challenges with virtual teams is the lack of visibility. When you work in an office, you have the advantage of seeing your team members on a day-to-day basis. This means you can drop by their desk to see what they\u2019re working on. Or notice when they\u2019re stressed out. But in a virtual setting, these signals become harder to see.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fewer opportunities for connection<\/span><\/h3>\n

When working together in person, there are more organic opportunities to connect. Whether it\u2019s eating lunch together or catching up while grabbing a snack from the kitchen, it\u2019s much easier to build relationships with your colleagues when you\u2019re physically together. But in a virtual setting, building connection needs to be approached more intentionally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different time zones<\/span><\/h3>\n

If your team is geographically dispersed, you may run into logistical challenges. How do you find a meeting time that works for everyone? What are the rules for communicating when some team members are working, while others are offline? These are the types of questions you need to think about as the leader of a virtual team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

12 tips to improve the way you lead virtual teams<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Clarify expectations around communication<\/span><\/h3>\n

When teams aren\u2019t physically together, clarity becomes even more essential\u2014especially when it comes to communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your employees don\u2019t have the benefit of clearing up misunderstandings face-to-face or reading each other\u2019s body language, so you need to establish clear expectations when it comes to communication. We encourage virtual teams to create a document that answers questions, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n