How can you learn from the best practices of other virtual teams?

2 Build trust and rapport

Trust is essential for any team, but it can be harder to build and maintain when you don't see each other face to face. You need to show your reliability, competence, and integrity, as well as your interest and appreciation for your team members. You can do this by delivering on your promises, providing quality work, giving and receiving constructive feedback, and acknowledging achievements. You can also build rapport by showing your personality, sharing some personal information, and engaging in social interactions, such as icebreakers, games, or virtual coffee breaks.

3 Respect diversity and culture

Diversity and culture are valuable assets for any team, but they can also create some challenges, such as miscommunication, conflict, or stereotyping. You need to respect and embrace the differences among your team members, as well as learn and adapt to their cultural preferences and norms. You can do this by being curious, open-minded, and empathetic, as well as asking questions, listening actively, and avoiding assumptions or judgments. You can also learn from the best practices of other virtual teams that have successfully managed diversity and culture, such as creating a shared vision and values, celebrating festivals and holidays, or using inclusive language and gestures.

5 Learn and grow

Learning and growing are important outcomes of any team, but they can be more rewarding when you work with people from different backgrounds, experiences, and skills. You can benefit from the knowledge, insights, and feedback of your team members, as well as the opportunities to develop new competencies, perspectives, and networks. You can do this by being proactive, curious, and reflective, as well as seeking and offering support, mentoring, or coaching. You can also learn from the best practices of other virtual teams that have successfully learned and grown, such as creating a learning culture, sharing best practices and lessons learned, or participating in online courses or webinars.