Finding Balance within a Spectrum: The Advantages & Challenges of Virtual Team Work
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Spectrum - "used to classify something, or suggest that it can be classified, in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme or opposite points (Oxford Languages, 2023)." |
Finding Balance within a Spectrum
Finding balance can be challenging; however, working with virtual teams requires that individuals be cognizant of challenges while accepting the benefits.
Most often, the factors contributing to a positive or negative (virtual) team experience are the same. The outcome depends on how well each factor was addressed within the team. The following 5 topics illustrate how each factor of team interaction involves a spectrum of advantages and challenges that occasionally bleeds into other aspects, adding new nuances of color.
Instructional designers, educators, and learners can all benefit from understanding how to find the place on each spectrum that best meets the team's needs and facilitates overall success.
Diversity
One of the most exciting aspects of virtual interaction is the possibility of creating solid teams of individuals with diverse backgrounds, belief structures, experiences, and capabilities. The possibility of diversification is an opportunity for individuals within the group to grow, learn, and establish a community with people outside of their traditional sphere. When leveraged correctly, group diversity can promote creativity and more efficient problem-solving because the team pulls from a more comprehensive experience base to support their decisions.
However, a diverse population also can present challenges for team interactions. Team members may have different ways of working, communicating, and interacting stemming from individual, cultural, religious, or other factors that can create barriers to communication. To support team members, leaders should provide clear expectations for respectful interactions within the group, which should be supported by each individual member of the team.
Communication
Diversity can also impact communication. Individuals may have different preferred methods of communication. There may also be a difference in communication style and language barriers, which can cause additional roadblocks. However, the positive side is that many preferred methods of communication may be accommodated or approximated using technology. Team members can have the option of text/chat, phone calls, email, or even face-to-face communication via conferencing software. With all of the options available, it may be helpful for leadership to put together a communication plan or work with the team on a communication charter that outlines the appropriate forms of communications, expected response times, and escalation procedures.
Distance
Distance is an obvious advantage of virtual teamwork. Communicating online/virtually means that participants can engage no matter where they are. Work can be completed from home- or even on the go with mobile devices. At the other end of the spectrum, this also has contributed to work and other virtual teams invading personal spaces and time. Virtual teamwork has made it necessary for participants to actively manage "work-life balance" and the separation between work and home life.
Team Accessibility
Another factor contributing to challenges with establishing "work-life balance" is the concept of "always on." Due to the portable nature of virtual teams and work, participants can be constantly connected. The benefit of constant connection is the possibility of always having someone available to answer a question or offer support; however, it can also create an unreasonable expectation of immediate responsiveness.
Technology
Distance and diversity may also be entangled within technological considerations for advantages and challenges. Virtual work depends on effectively utilizing technology with limited outside assistance. This reliance on technology can present several challenges. For example, location or socio-economic status may impact a team member's internet access. Individuals may also have physical or mental health considerations that affect their ability to work remotely or with virtual teams.
However, technology has many benefits. Aside from having the ability to connect and communicate with diverse populations across various distances, technology can be used to facilitate work for the team through the use of collaboration, team management, and automation software.
References:
Kegerreis, S. (2019). Managing our time and ourselves in the way we now work. Psychodynamic Practice: Individuals, Groups and Organisations, 25(1), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/14753634.2018.1527059
Liran, A. (November 17, 2021) Turning Away from an "always-on" work culture. LinkedIn. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turning-away-from-always-on-work-culture-avi-z-liran/ on October 20, 2023.
Oxford Languages (2023) What is a Spectrum. Yahoo! Search powered by Oxford Languages. Retrieved from https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=E211US105G0&p=what+is+a+spectrum on October 20, 2023