should therefore consider the following 10 top tips to get the most out of their virtual teams.
1 Remember: In virtual space, many areas are reinforced: In virtual meetings, the participants listen more intensely to the executive than is often the case with "face-to-face communication". Weaknesses in the argumentation are perceived much faster by other participants. Leaders must therefore develop a strong sense of self and learn how to control their emotions, react to situations and verbally express themselves.
2 Listen carefully: Most executives are trained to pay attention to the body language of their counterpart and to consider visual stimuli. This is not necessary in virtual space. To succeed here, leaders need to listen more closely and develop a "seventh sense" to connect with their employees.
3 Create a common virtual space: Each individual participant should be connected electronically to the others. A mix between virtual and other participants, for example placed around a microphone, does not work.
4 The right working environment is important: Participants should be alone and undisturbed in a quiet room - not in a large office, an airport lounge or on the train. All participants should wear a headset that covers both ears. Telephone connections are preferable to Internet-based connections because they provide better sound quality and are more common. Participants should log 10 minutes before the start of the meeting so that technical problems can be solved in time.
5 Consider the different time zones: Appointments should be planned in such a way that the employees can participate in the virtual meetings at humane times. If this is not always possible, the dates should be adapted to the needs of the participants. Thus, the same person does not always have to attend the virtual meetings at an unpleasant time, such as the 3 clock.
6 Plan enough time: Schedule a time buffer before the meeting that will allow you and the attendees to prepare. At the beginning of the meeting, take the time to get used to it instead of going to the job. End the meeting by allowing the attendees to leave and ask if anyone has something to add before signing out - similar to a virtual handshake.
7 Plan the course of the meeting: Think carefully about what the participants should have read and prepared before the meeting. Send the agenda in advance to all participants and ask for their feedback. When you use presentations, they prepare not only content-related slides but also process-specific slides.
8 Help the participants to focus: A "concentration exercise" at the beginning of the meeting can allow the participants to begin thinking in terms of the topic they have been dealing with in order to be fully involved.
9 Learn to deal with silence: Most people feel uncomfortable when it is quiet and try to break through by repeating the information. Silence does not mean that people are absent. As a rule, they think about the task and think about how to respond. Give them the time to think in peace.
10 Build relationships and maintain them: Relationships are the pillars of virtual leadership. Managers should spend a certain amount of time engaging with each and every member of the team. There are good experiences with concepts such as the "virtual coffee corners". These are meetings without an agenda to which people are invited to meet virtually and discuss things they are currently dealing with.
Body language in politics: Obama calls Putin bored schoolchild
// By Simone Janson
Body language is important, most people know it undeniably, but many successful people in positions of power do not pay attention to it. This can have unpleasant consequences.
Putin as a lazy from the last bank?
Rhetoric and presentation expert Michael Moesslang has for Best of HR – Berufebilder.de® already analyzed the body language of various politicians. He also drew my attention to this announcement: US President Barack Obama calls Russian President Vladimier Putin a bored schoolboy - and thus clearly targets his body language.
It sounds funny at first glance: like Alan Posener in the WELT Obama wrote at a press conference that he interrupted his remarks "to say the Russian head of state, sometimes lolls around like the bored schoolchild in the last bank." "Of course it's about more: especially the Snowden affair, but also more political differences. How Putin responded to this targeted insult is not yet known.
Offense at the highest level
And also whether it was politically wise from Obama, Putin so obvious to dissen or a dictator to be minimized. This must be discussed and judged by others. I am concerned about a different aspect:
The Importanz of the body language also on politically highest level. Obama's criticism shows that body language often tells more about us than we can be. Because Putin likes to mark the strong man, but shows his weakness with this body language.
Body language has an impact on our status
According to impact expert Dr. Cornelia Topf, also author on Best of HR – Berufebilder.de®, our body language actually affects our status in working life. More than most believe. Alone, how one sits in a meeting, can bring the image strong scratches. And she advises Improvement of the effect:
"Take a close look at successful people: the fatal thing is that many are unaware of their impact. They often wonder where their completely untrue image comes from. "
Pay attention to breathing, stability and posture
The expert therefore advises to observe respiration, stability and physical activity and to train them. And pot gives a sovereignty-tip, to make oneself aware of one's own weaknesses and to improve them purposefully, in order to be self-assured: Feel the fear and do it anyway!
What I noticed: Also the other way around is a shoe out of it. When I pay attention to my body tension and move confidently, I also get better feedback - and automatically feel better self-confident.
If Putin had listened to our experts ...
Mrs. Topf writes in her sovereignty contribution also: That you should be grateful for any feedback you get in this regard. Whether the Russian President is so grateful to the American, I dare to doubt.
One thing is certain: if Mr. Putin had listened to our experts, then he would have been spared this insult! ;-) (Attention, irony!)
The ideal boss: communication as the key to success
// By Jürgen W. Goldfuß
These are the many small things that often stand in the way of executives and are therefore ridiculed or not accepted by their employees.
To lead people is to communicate clearly
To lead people to talk to people, to communicate. Now we've all met people who talk a lot, but do not say anything, do not make any statements. However, a manager is expected to convey his message clearly and unequivocally in a few words.
