Backpacking Your Business
Being on the move today is a given for almost everyone. So whether you’re running a business or managing a project, your success depends on how effective you are at being there virtually. While technology is an important aspect of working virtually, effective communication is an equally important part of the equation. Here are a few ways to communicate clearly in a virtual world.

1.  Manage Results, Not Activity.
“Busy work” in a cubicle environment can be mistaken for real work, but in a virtual environment, you can’t see what people are doing. So manage their results, not their daily activities. By empowering people, you’ll quickly learn who’s motivated and who doesn’t take the initiative.

2.  Save Time – Don’t Kill It – When You Communicate.
Create an e-mail culture that saves time by sticking to some healthy guidelines. Put what you need in the subject line so people don’t have to scour a message to find out what to do. CC only those who need to know that information. Don’t use e-mail to vent your feelings; cool down and then decide what to write. And sometimes, use that ancient mechanism called a “phone” to quickly get a response.

3.  Establish Rules of Responsiveness.
Since you can’t walk over to someone’s office to ask a question, make sure people know how quickly they should respond to e-mails, phone calls, and instant messages. No one likes to be kept waiting, so knowing the parameters keeps everyone on the same timeline.

While technology is an important aspect of working virtually, effective communication is an equally important part of the equation.