The Truth About Managing People, Third Edition

Truth 32. Virtual Leadership: Leading from Afar

How do you lead people who are physically separated from you and with whom you communicate electronically?

We can’t ignore the reality that today’s managers and their employees are increasingly being linked by networks rather than geographical proximity. Emerging technologies are allowing people to work from almost any location. Obvious examples include managers who regularly use e-mail to communicate with their staff, managers overseeing virtual projects or teams, and managers whose telecommuting employees are linked to the office by a computer at home. These managers need to become effective virtual leaders—who use e-mail, tweets, phone conferences, Web-enabled meetings, and technologies such ...