Today I’m reminded of an old client who passed away a couple of years ago. He was my client for 12 years, and I learned a lot from him. He would call me a couple of times per day. I have to admit that this annoyed me initially, but over time, I came to look forward to the calls. We would discuss his plans for the day, review his calendar, and he would check-in to see if I had anything to discuss with him.
As a result of these calls, I knew him better than any client that I had. I knew his likes and his dislikes as it related to business issues. Therefore, I was able to provide him with excellent support, hence our 12-year working relationship, which only ended upon his death.
Communication, or the lack thereof, is the root cause of the ending of many working relationships. In today’s technological world, e-mail and texting have replaced conversations. Nothing can replace hearing someone’s voice. Communication is the key to building a solid working relationship.
If you have virtual team members make sure that you speak with them regularly. Twice per day may be excessive, but at least two to three times per week have a phone conversation with them or better yet, a video call. You will find that as you get to know them, and vice versa, that your working relationship will flourish, and that’s the key to having a great virtual team.
