Summarize work below using to present to course. Using similar different reference.
Building a Virtual Team
Agenda for Lauren’s Kickoff Meeting
Lauren is the team manager of the project, and this is her first-time managing a cross-functional team for a key project of the company. Her boss expects her to effectively and successfully manage the virtual teams to ensure the project delivers its objectives. As a team leader, she understands that failing to prepare is like preparing to fail. She will have to pick an agenda for the kickoff meeting, which will entail several elements. First, the introduction, and here she will introduce herself to the other team members (Atlassian, 2021). She will then allow the team members to introduce themselves, icebreaker, explaining what they bring on board, the individual abilities, and skills. The introduction is crucial since people are from different locations, cultures, and ethnicities with different personalities. To get the ball rolling, it is good for them to know each other and understand the purpose, which has brought them together.
Second, background of the project. This is the most crucial part of the agendas to be discussed. The part entails the statement of work, which is the set objectives of the project. Or otherwise, Lauren will try to inform the team members what the boss expects of them upon completion of the project. She will continue by explaining the project’s scope, which contains a clear descriiption of the deliverables of the project and the work they are required to accomplish. In addition, she will give the team members an overview of what each of them is expected to deliver and at which specific timeline. Lastly, mode of communication. Communication and collaboration are key to the success of this project. In this part, Lauren will explain to the team members the various ways she will reach out to an individual or the entire group throughout the process of executing the project plan.
Ground Rules for the Team
A virtual team requires high coordination and collaboration to achieve the set objectives. As a team leader, Lauren carries too many expectations from the boss to the project’s sponsor and even the team itself. A high level of coordination requires implementing ground rules, which are enforced in virtual meetings aiming to bring out the best ideas from each participant. Some ground rules must be mandated, including timing. Each team member must strictly adhere to the starting times and end times of each activity or meetup. Keeping time ensures the group agrees on the same deliverables and moves together as a team. Second, participation, and members must speak their minds and be candid. Lauren must ensure that each member understands this is a key project to the company, so much is expected. The team is cross-functional, meaning each member has a varied opinion, just like they have different personalities and abilities. Participation will enable the advancement of varied ideas and from which the best idea will be selected. However, some of the ground rules can be negotiated, for example, using a specific medium of communication. Some of the mediums do fail sometimes, and they are bound to fail anytime. As a team manager, Lauren should offer a variety of mediums that the team members can utilize to collaborate and communicate.
1. Encourage respectful listening – Active listening to team member’s input, suggestions, or questions, demonstrates that what they have to say is important and worthy to the project.
2. Promote open communication – Foster an environment where members feel safe to share their thoughts without fear of retribution.
3. Develop shared values – Institute shared values as a team that will work on the project.
4. Build a culture of collaboration – Clear, respectful communication will encourage the members and strengthen their work relationships.
5. Understanding everyone’s strengths and weaknesses – Sharing knowledge, skills, and abilities from each member allows everyone to seek out other members who have the most vital skills so that time is not wasted on duplication of work.
Once rules have been established, the team can build trust by being responsive, responsible, and respectful. The best way to accomplish this will be to deliver the task they have been assigned on time. Demonstrating that you care about your teammates by doing what you say helps people learn to trust, strengthening relationships.
Recommendations for Building Relationship and Trust
Second, communicate consistently and with consistency (Blalock et al., 2021). Lauren is the team manager, managing a team of members who she does not know or ever seen or even will ever see. As the manager, the team members expect her to offer a daily guide concerning the deliverables and the timelines required for each. A project is undertaken in various stages, and within the stages, something might change. It might be schedule, quality, or even timeline. In case of changes, Lauren should ensure the team members are informed promptly. Lastly, setting and sharing common goals. Goals are the key recipe to building trust and the success of any endeavor. As a team manager, Lauren should define a set of values common to all team members and which the team will reflect on towards fulfilling the project’s objectives
