Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? The primary goal of this course is to provide you with the ability to recognise and deal with the range of challenges that are unique to working with geographically dispersed teams or those teams that rely heavily on IT tools for communicating or collaborating. After you complete this three-day course, you will anticipate and manage the risks inherent in remote and virtual working. You will lead more effectively across time zones, and evaluate and apply appropriate virtual technologies. What background do I need? No special background is required. You only need the desire to become more effective at what will become an increasingly widespread method of leading teams in the 21st century. We assume that you are familiar with core virtual technologies such as e-mail, video conferencing and the telephone. Who will benefit from the course? People taking on the responsibility of virtual leadership for the first time Established leaders and managers who would like to develop a more effective approach to the challenges of delivering results across organisational, geographical and time boundaries Individuals who are part of a virtual or remote team Is this course hands-on? No. The focus of the course is on how to lead and manage people. We review different virtual working technologies, and put their contributions - positive and negative - into the wider context of leading and motivating teams to deliver results with the challenges of working at a distance. How does this course approach the topic of managing in virtual and remote situations? Separation amplifies the effect of a number of factors that are relatively insignificant when managing a team of people in the same location. The planning phase of remote and virtual projects must allow for the numerous risk factors that can impact delivery-time differences, cultural perspectives, interpersonal friction and communication errors. This approach enables managers to be more robust and realistic in planning and executing. Recognising that there is a problem and then choosing the best response to the situation are key skills. Anticipating the challenge is an even more effective approach that requires an enabling, proactive mindset and a move away from the common model of reactive management. How is the course structured? The course combines lectures and activities. The activities provide practical learning to reinforce concepts and tools described in the lecture sessions. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction and overview 1.25 Creating a leadership model for the virtual world 1.25 Managing team collaboration 1.5 Building team and organisational relationships 2.0 Technology: Filter or facilitator? 2.75 Adapting to an evolving workplace 2.75 Leveraging the benefits of distance and difference 2.5 Optimising virtual and remote teams 2.5 Implementing your post-course action plan 0.5 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much time is devoted to the activities? Approximately 55 percent of the course time is spent in activity sessions that reinforce the concepts and provide practice on techniques set out in the course materials, including: Evaluating virtual communication technologies Identifying and managing risks in virtual and remote work Mapping and analysing the team environment Analysing stakeholder priorities Creating a team vision and success criteria Quantifying the effects of separation Identifying actions to optimise virtual working effectiveness Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (Sixty units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Learning Tree offers other courses in communication, management and planning. The only overlap in content is to the extent necessary for a certain course to introduce skills and techniques that are expanded in another Learning Tree course. 288, Change Management: People and Process provides the knowledge and skills to guide the people in your workplace through the process of change 290, Management Skills covers the key aspects of management - leadership, delegation, motivation and communication - and practical techniques for getting the best from people 292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration focuses on specific tools and techniques for improving listening skills, delivering effective messages and bridging different communication styles 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority focuses on the specific skills, behaviours and attitudes that enable you to achieve desired results without relying on the use of authority 296, Project Management: Skills for Success provides the knowledge and skills needed to successfully plan, manage and deliver projects 222, Leadership Skills: Building Success Through Teamwork provides the skills required to inspire service teams to deliver high-quality results 340, Project Management for Software Development provides the tools you need to effectively organise and select process choices, create realistic plans and see them through to successful delivery 344, Effective Time Management provides strategies, techniques and tips to set priorities and manage the daily pressures of meeting important and urgent commitments in your life 249, Hands-On Microsoft® Project: Managing Multiple and Complex Projects offers the skills to leverage Microsoft Project Professional tools and techniques to manage multiple or complex projects

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