Virtual Teams Video Cliff Note #4 – Context Communication

The human connection allows a richer path of information exchange through what Yael Zofi calls Context Communication. This allows virtual team members to understand the setting that their teammates are working in and to find the best approach to collaboration. When context is missing, virtual teams are forced to make a greater effort to maintain the human connection, which in turn leads to new behaviors and ways of communicating.

 

Context Communication is achieved in three ways: Environmental Cues, through The Medium, and through Relationships.

Environmental Cues are the most immediate cues about one’s physical surroundings that vanish in the virtual world.
The Medium is the format or combination of formats we use to communicate.
Relationships are the connections that virtual teammates construct as they learn about each other’s career goals, friendships and personalities.

 

Remember, good communication always unites a team. Creating the context for shared understanding is your key task as a virtual manager. When context is communicated well, it builds accountability and trust, without which teams fail to achieve superior performance.

Here’s a bit more about Context Communication: