Comments on: 8 Attributes of Successful Virtual Workers http://facilitate.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/8-attributes-of-successful-virtual-workers/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:46:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julia Young http://facilitate.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/8-attributes-of-successful-virtual-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 Julia Young Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:36:04 +0000 http://facilitate.com/blog/?p=955#comment-1277 Nancy - Thanks for this list. I think it would make a very useful discussion starter for a new virtual team as a way to discuss the nature of working together remotely and some of the communications needs required to be successful. Team members might do a self assessment and the team could look at their collective "scores" and discuss ways to work around collective weaknesses and build on individual strengths. Adding to Penny's comments, I might think of #4 as a proactive communicator - someone who takes the initiative to reach out to others, stay in touch and check in on a regular basis. I will make use of this list. Thank you. Nancy – Thanks for this list. I think it would make a very useful discussion starter for a new virtual team as a way to discuss the nature of working together remotely and some of the communications needs required to be successful. Team members might do a self assessment and the team could look at their collective “scores” and discuss ways to work around collective weaknesses and build on individual strengths.

Adding to Penny’s comments, I might think of #4 as a proactive communicator – someone who takes the initiative to reach out to others, stay in touch and check in on a regular basis.

I will make use of this list. Thank you.

]]> By: Nancy Settle-Murphy http://facilitate.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/8-attributes-of-successful-virtual-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-1269 Nancy Settle-Murphy Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:20:17 +0000 http://facilitate.com/blog/?p=955#comment-1269 Hi Penny, Thanks for the question. I suppose I was deliberately ambiguous here, for as you said, a very social person may find it difficult to work alone, and at the same time that same desire for social contact can make someone a great collaborator. Now that we've had a few years' experience with widescale telecommuting, many people report that in fact the most social people often make the best remote workers, since they are motivated to reach out and call, IM, email, and otherwise communicate and collaborate with others. Since they crave frequent social contact, they make an effort to stay connected with others in their team. Ironically, perhaps, it's those who are the most introverted that often do not make good candidates for remote work. The reason: They are more likely to stay hunkered down, working independently, with as little contact with others as possible. The result? Very little sharing of knowledge and experiences, to or from this person, with few chances for collaboration. There are, of course, some social people who absolutely must have frequent face-to-face contact with others to feel energized and motivated. Unless the remote work environment offers opportunities for periodic face-to-face interaction, this kind of person may not be happy working from afar. Nancy Settle-Murphy Hi Penny,

Thanks for the question. I suppose I was deliberately ambiguous here, for as you said, a very social person may find it difficult to work alone, and at the same time that same desire for social contact can make someone a great collaborator.

Now that we’ve had a few years’ experience with widescale telecommuting, many people report that in fact the most social people often make the best remote workers, since they are motivated to reach out and call, IM, email, and otherwise communicate and collaborate with others. Since they crave frequent social contact, they make an effort to stay connected with others in their team.

Ironically, perhaps, it’s those who are the most introverted that often do not make good candidates for remote work. The reason: They are more likely to stay hunkered down, working independently, with as little contact with others as possible. The result? Very little sharing of knowledge and experiences, to or from this person, with few chances for collaboration.

There are, of course, some social people who absolutely must have frequent face-to-face contact with others to feel energized and motivated. Unless the remote work environment offers opportunities for periodic face-to-face interaction, this kind of person may not be happy working from afar.

Nancy Settle-Murphy

]]> By: Penny Walker http://facilitate.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/8-attributes-of-successful-virtual-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-1263 Penny Walker Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:56:47 +0000 http://facilitate.com/blog/?p=955#comment-1263 Hi Nancy A nice piece - and I'll pass it on to my partner, who often gnashes his teeth about colleagues who work in a remote office (not even from home) and just don't seem to be keeping in touch enough! I'm interested in the ambiguity in point 4 - desires social contact. Is the worker more or less suited to working remotely, if they score high or low on this? I think there are two sides. If they'll be lonely and miserable, and fail to do their work well in the absence of face-to-face contact, then they're not suited. But if they are the kind of person who will proactively seek out ways of staying in touch whilst working remotely, and are willing to come into the office for those important face-to-face contacts from time to time (social as well as directly work-related) then they are probably very well suited. What do you think? Kind regards Penny [Self employed, working at home today ;-)] Hi Nancy

A nice piece – and I’ll pass it on to my partner, who often gnashes his teeth about colleagues who work in a remote office (not even from home) and just don’t seem to be keeping in touch enough!

I’m interested in the ambiguity in point 4 – desires social contact. Is the worker more or less suited to working remotely, if they score high or low on this? I think there are two sides. If they’ll be lonely and miserable, and fail to do their work well in the absence of face-to-face contact, then they’re not suited. But if they are the kind of person who will proactively seek out ways of staying in touch whilst working remotely, and are willing to come into the office for those important face-to-face contacts from time to time (social as well as directly work-related) then they are probably very well suited.

What do you think?

Kind regards

Penny

[Self employed, working at home today ;-) ]

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