Just because technology gives businesses the capability to work without an office, virtually, that does not mean technology has replaced the need to practice the disciplines of effective business, team and project management. In fact, technology has made virtual team management a requirement in today’s business world. Professional service companies are successfully managing virtual teams and reducing costs while increasing productivity. 

Not all businesses can, or choose to, leverage a ‘virtual office’ environment where employees complete over 65% of their work from a remote location – a home office, coffee shop, hotel lobby or a client’s office. Professional service firms are the companies leading the way in the much improved virtual office.

IT Service Companies, Management Consultants, Law Firms, Accountants and a variety of other service-based companies are recognizing that today’s Internet, security, mobile devices and software applications enable them to connect to their colleagues, clients and contractors more easily than ever. The ability to communicate from where ever we are is a great advantage, but also has pitfalls if team and project management disciplines are not enforced. In fact, traditional techniques to keep team momentum going are being employed by the most successful virtual team managers. 

All the technological capability in the world is not replacing the need for traditional management disciplines. These technological capabilities are, in fact, increasing the need to leverage these disciplines. Successful ‘Virtual Managers’ still focus on the following when managing their teams and working with clients and contractors.

• Clear Goals & Milestones
• Effective Supervision
• Timely and Appropriate Communications
• Resource Planning & Scheduling
• Crossing the Finish Line

The businesses that are most successful in managing their virtual teams make a conscious choice to be Virtual Managers or Operators and exhibit the following 5 key behaviors.

1. Make a conscious choice to operate virtually and manage accordingly
2. Establish clear expectations of operating processes with employees, clients and contractors
3. Employ traditional management principles that virtual teams can leverage to consistently hit milestone targets 
4. Form relationships with clients and contractors who see the value in operating virtually
5. Leverage tools that foster and organize virtual team interactions effectively 

It should not be assumed that companies who operate virtually do so 100% of the time with all aspects of their business. Companies who see the greatest benefits from operating virtually do so in a balanced way when the situation calls for it.

For example, IT service companies whose clients have outsourced IT support often pre-schedule times when they will be on-site with their clients – regardless of whether there are technical issues to fix or not. This is an operating expectation they have set with their clients and work is managed according.    

Accountants whose clients have outsourced accounting and tax duties set up FTP (File Transfer Protocol) servers so their clients can easily send large amount of financial data files. This allows the accountant to securely manage financial data for multiple clients – a choice that without today’s Internet security would not be an option. 

Technology offers more capabilities in the way businesses and teams operate, but cannot replace the people who manage them or the effective management disciplines needed to consistently accomplish goals and milestones.

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CoreConnex specializes in professional services automation (PSA) software for VARs, MSPs, channel distribution partners, IT service providers and other professional service companies. We encourage you to share experiences and perspectives as players in this professional community. This blog is moderated. Comments that are unprofessional or derogatory will not be posted.