The
increase of tele-workers and a growing mobile workforce means managers need to
be able to lead ‘virtual teams’, new research exclusively released to Personnel
Today shows.
The
research, by Roffey Park, finds that managers are needing to develop a new core
competency, vitual management.
Almost
half of the 371 managers surveyed manage staff across separate locations using
telephone, e-mail or video-conferencing.
Eighty
per cent say that virtual management arrangements have increased in their
organisation over the past five years. This is mainly due to cost and time
savings.
However,
the research shows that virtual management is difficult to do.
Report
author Andy Smith said: "Reduced face-to-face contact and separation from
co-workers are the principal differences between virtual and traditional
management.
"This
can make it more difficult to establish and maintain trust between the members
of a virtual team."
The
report argues this lack of contact doesn’t suit everyone.
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