1.25 General
Description

The biggest change to the work place is the rise of the virtual workforce. Good news for you – I am the leading expert on this topic. It’s been my passion for the past several years. I based my research on it, I wrote a book about it (Virtual Teams for Dummies) and I have been consulting, writing, training and speaking to groups about it non-stop. Here’s the issue – Businesses are launching head first into establishing virtual teams, without taking into consideration their unique needs. Organizations are sending people out of the office and investing in technology solutions without looking at the underlying critical needs of the new workforce. What kind of talent should you be recruiting? What kinds of new skills do you need to train for? Are your leaders equipped to handle managing a team they’ve never met face-to-face? How to make smart technology choices for your remote workforce? I will cover the following key areas:

• Benefits of virtual workforce – The train has left the station, so you might as well reap the many benefits of your new, far-flung workforce. There are many advantages – reduced operational costs, higher productivity, improved work/life balance and more – and I can speak to all of them.

• Tackling technology – Technology has both driven and continues to change the workforce and how virtual teams function. I will talk about the emerging technology solutions – collaboration, project/workflow management, communication tools, mobile platforms, video conferencing, IMs/chat. Technology advancements are a moving target and it’s easy to be distracted by the latest and greatest offering, so I will provide a detailed roadmap for choosing the best fit technology for your business, your team and your work.

• Critical talents and skills for virtual workers – What talents do you need to look for in hiring and recruiting for virtual teams, and what skills do you need to train your virtual workers and leaders? Let’s face it, not everyone is cut out for remote work. I will explain what talents to look for (examples include adaptability, global thinking, self-directedness, creative critical thinkers) and what skills to train for (examples include communication, accountability, technology and trust).

HR leaders will gain key insights to understand the new virtual workforce.

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