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Team Building Curriculum

Virtual Teams: Communicating Effectively

In Virtual Teams: Communicating Effectively in Virtual Teams, participants will learn the importance of communication among virtual team members and how to communicate effectively in a virtual team setting. Participants will also learn how to overcome barriers to virtual team communication, as well as what technological innovations facilitate communication among virtual team members.

Learn To:

• Use the communication design process to enhance communication in a virtual team.
• Use the TRUST acronym to make virtual team communication more effective.
• Identify the technological barriers that impede communication among virtual team members.
• Apply techniques to overcome a virtual team's cultural challenges.
• Select technologies that best address a virtual team's needs.

Content Emphasis: Skills-Based

Audience: Individuals who want to learn how to use communication to their benefit as a virtual team member.

Total Learning Time: 2 - 4 Hour(s)

Team Building Curriculum on CD-ROM Course Contents

Unit 1: Background Information
Duration: 0.5 - 1 Hour(s)

• Define virtual teams.
• Identify the importance of open communication in a virtual team setting.
• Identify the importance of a virtual team's norms and roles.
• Distinguish between the two types of meanings words can convey.
• Simulation Overview: In this simulation, you will meet with Janet Porter, Icon's Director of Business Development. Janet is an experienced member of virtual teams, and she asked for a few minutes to discuss virtual teams with you. Through your questions, you will learn why virtual teams have become so important in the business environment, the roles and norms of virtual teams, and the importance of communication in virtual teams.

Unit 2: Enhancing Communication in a Virtual Team
Duration: 0.5 - 1 Hour(s)

• Define the communication design process.
• List the benefits of organizing the communication design process.
• Follow guidelines when developing the communication design process.
• Use the communication design process to enhance communication in a virtual team.
• List the types of questions virtual team members can ask.
• Use the TRUST acronym to make virtual team communication more effective.
• Simulation Overview: In this simulation, you will participate in an audio conference with Kevin McDonald, Amanda Douglas, Drew Canfield, Marcus D'Angelo, and Chala Merino, who are all members of the Global Sales and Marketing Taskforce. Both Kevin and Amanda will be at your location, while Drew, Marcus, and Chala will be communicating via speakerphone. You are leading a meeting to discuss the implementation of the team's communication design process.

Unit 3: Overcoming Communication Barriers
Duration: 0.5 - 1 Hour(s)

• Identify the technological barriers that impede communication among virtual team members.
• List cultural variables that differ among virtual team members.
• Apply techniques to overcome a virtual team's cultural challenges.
• Use techniques to communicate effectively without the use of nonverbal communication.
• Identify personal fears that can impede communication in a virtual team setting.
• Simulation Overview: In this simulation, you will meet with Kevin McDonald, a Regional Sales Manager for Icon. Kevin is a new member of the Global Marketing and Sales Taskforce, and he is concerned about communication barriers he has encountered in his virtual team. Kevin is comfortable with the communication design process that has been implemented, but he is concerned that these communication barriers may hinder the team's effectiveness. Your goal is to help him identify exactly what barriers he is facing and how he can overcome them.

Unit 4: Using Technology to Communicate
Duration: 0.5 - 1 Hour(s)

• Identify the four ways virtual team members can communicate
• List the technological innovations that facilitate communication among virtual team members.
• Select technologies that best address a virtual team's needs.
• Distinguish between one-way and two-way communication mediums.
• Apply techniques to effectively use voicemail.
• Follow guidelines to effectively use e-mail.
• Follow effective practices when participating in an audio conference.
• Simulation Overview: In this simulation, you will participate in an audio conference with Ronald Spear, Icon's Vice President of Marketing; Jessica Stone, Icon's Director of International Sales; and Drew Canfield, Icon's Vice President of International Marketing. They have asked you for this meeting, so you can discuss the communication technologies available to their virtual team and to help the team members decide which technologies will best meet their needs.

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