Telecommute Resumes

images4Until today I had never heard of a “telecommute resume,” but Employment Digest has some tips for building one. While their advice is worth a look, I think they’re addressing how to build a resume to win any great job in a competitive global market. They’ve left out the one thing that might add value to resume aimed specifically at a telecommuting position.

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The Future of Virtual Project Teams, part 2

rocketIn the first part of this series I talked about how future project leaders may select team members for their projects. In this installment, I will discuss the future of virtual team spaces, which include real-time tools that facilitate ‘in-person’ sharing of information and the online workspaces where project documents are stored. Continue reading

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A Bit of Good News

images3This article from Management Issues, a great blog focused on the British workplace, predicts what the working world will look like in 2018. Not only do they predict working from anywhere, but they also expect more collaboration particularly using social media, remote conferencing, email, and texting.  Need a sunshine break from the 2009 gloom? Take a look.

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A Tax Break?

images2 A New York Times article on mass transit prompted this interesting letter (link requires a New York Times account.) The writer, Nicole Belson Goluboff,  proposes that “The most efficient and most advanced ways for Americans to travel include telecommuting, as well as mass transit, and President-elect Barack Obama should make this alternative a priority, too. Tax credits should be available both to employers and to workers who embrace this option, and to companies that offer broadband access where it has been absent or inadequate.”

What a great way to reduce pollution and fossil fuel consumption as well as to encourage employers to reduce costly office space and fuel costs for their employees!  I don’t suppose it’s time to hold my breath yet, but wouldn’t that be a good fit in an energy program?

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The Future of Virtual Project Teams

rocketI always enjoy imagining what the future will be like for all sorts of things: transportation, energy, architecture, space exploration, and the everyday chores of life. Perhaps it is my lifelong interest in science fiction, or perhaps I just want to believe that a better world is possible. One thing is for sure: all great productivity improvements start with people imagining how things can be better. So, let’s explore the future of teams. Specifically, virtual project teams, since that is my specialty. Continue reading

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Hybrid Meetings

images1What is a hybrid meeting? It’s a term coined by Commute Zero author Carol to refer to a meeting in which some attendees are face to face in a conference room and others attend remotely, either from home or from an office or from another conference room. Hybrid meetings present some special challenges, not just technical problems (flat-sounding speaker phones) but also cultural issues .

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Use Your Radio Voice

old_fashion_radio_microphone_hg_wht2A friend once told me that I sounded like I was on radio when I delivered an important remote presentation. That put a smile on my face all day!

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Telecommuting: Going Up or Down?

imagesWhither telecommuting? With gas over $4 and talk of the “war for talent,” business magazines said that companies previously unwilling to endorse telecommuting had found it necessary to compete for top talent.  Then the market fell, layoffs began, fuel costs dropped, and job seekers were everywhere. Continue reading

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Teambuilding for Virtual Teams

Every project manager worthy of the title knows why effective teamwork is critical to project success. All members of great teams know their own roles, limitations and strengths, as well as those of everyone else on the team. They use this knowledge to avoid duplication, anticipate problems, and quickly determine who is most able and qualified to take on a new project assignment. These teams operate with minimal management oversight. In fact, wherever you find a micromanaging team leader, you are sure to find a poorly functioning team. Obviously there are many other factors that cause teams to malfunction (i.e., lack of clarity of purpose, roles, skills, etc.), but one factor is always critical: good teamwork. Continue reading

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How Good Are Virtual Team Relationships?

Old reel-to-reel tape

In my many years working virtually, I’ve come to realize that business relationships with virtual colleagues can be every bit as strong as those with colleagues in a traditional office setting. I’ve had many people tell me that face-to-face is the only way to build teamwork. Until fairly recently, however, I had no concrete examples to prove these people wrong. Continue reading

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