Virtual Organizations — Where Fantasy Meets Reality
Many of us daydream about stepping back from the unabating bustle of our nine-to-five jobs and enjoying our next vacation, probably somewhere in Boracay or Phuket. Now is the time to make your dream of enjoying your Phuket evenings, working at your chosen time of the day, & still being financially independent, come to life. All thanks to the rise of virtual organizations, or ‘all-remote organizations’.
A virtual workplace is one with no physical existence or geographical bounds, rather it is connected through technological devices via the internet or private network.
While virtual organizations offer plenty of benefits, they present a novel set of challenges too. As the world debates reconfiguring the modern office, while simultaneously making a shift to virtual, it’s become more important to understand the virtual workspace at a deeper level.
Founded as a virtual organization & successfully navigating the pandemic, all while simultaneously growing our client base to 300+ amazing supporters, Odetta celebrates its 4th Founding Anniversary next month. So, we’d share our best practices for a productive & efficient virtual organization.
A Touch of Odd - Trust over Micromanagement
While many organizations tend to micromanage their employees, monitoring each & every step, such management is not possible in a virtual workplace. In a remote work environment, where you can’t in-person ‘check-up’ on employees, trusting that they will get their work done without their every step being monitored is integral.
You need to make an effort to take a step back, and let your team prove just how competent and dedicated they are. This may seem odd at first, but it is key to building and managing successful virtual teams.
This has been a fundamental mantra of our Founder and CEO, and she elaborates further on this, in our January 2022 newsletter:
“Everyone seeks a sense of purpose in their work. When you create something like a company or a role within that company, it’s important not to watch its progress with anxiety, but give it to the world and let it grow. We want Odetta to be a portal where Odettians can devote themselves authentically to their dreams and collective transformation”
Putting Life on Hold
Virtual does not mean working 24/7. Flexible rules should be formed around availability. Around when one can shut off from all the hustle-bustle of everyday work, despite different geographical territories. A virtual team needs to form respectful boundaries & allow its members to completely get off work, relax & come back refreshed.
“Sometimes being smart means slowing down, doing less, and gaining perspective.”
The IT infrastructure is more important than ever
As companies rethink their work models, a simultaneous investment in IT resources is crucial. In a remote setting, you need to utilize technology to enhance productivity, build morale, hold meaningful virtual events, and enhance data security. With less travel, technology is what drives virtual connections. As virtual workspace becomes the norm, it will be imperative to create a meaningful, engaging & secure IT infrastructure.
Odetta leverages technologies like Airtable, Zoom, Slack, & Google Suite to effectively organize & manage its data, communications and operations.
Asynchronous Communication - a cocktail of Kindness & Empathy
Successful communication is paramount in a remote environment. With limited physical interaction, communications have to be intentional & impactful, with a focus on kindness, compassion & empathy. Increased focus on tone, and/or on how a text may be perceived, has a significant impact on the morale & motivation of a virtual team.
Prioritizing providing a variety of communication tools and communicating often & well is key. If your teams are dispersed around various time zones, try using Slack, an intracompany portal or a Google Doc. Whatever the channel, giving everyone enough time to respond is what leads to blameless-problem solving.
Odetta has incorporated these practices since Day 1. In fact, we operate under an asynchronous-first model. Another way Odetta accommodates informal, fun conversations is by holding monthly virtual community gatherings, where we share stories & learn more about our fellow Odettians.
Leading a Virtual Team - You have enough to make it Cool
Effective leadership is absolutely vital to overcoming the challenges of virtual teams. Creating a well-defined structure around identifying goals, recognizing achievements, and providing feedback are key. Transparency is critical. You also need to create opportunities for more spontaneous, informal communication like virtual happy hours or celebrating birthdays and other milestones. Prioritize your team’s well-being by scheduling regular check-ins & redistributing workload as required.
Odetta has a functional & effective 360° feedback system. This helps our team improve & become better at what they do. We also hold monthly ‘Happiness Surveys’, in an effort to prioritize the mental & emotional well-being of our Odettians.
Invisible paint
According to the Pipeline's Women Count 2020 report shared by BBC, whether virtual or not, women-led businesses tend to perform better. Such businesses prioritize traditionally ‘feminine’ traits of empathy, trust & kindness in everyday practice. With such factors being fundamental in the success of virtual teams, now is the time to hire more women, on their terms & around their schedules. This will not only lead to successful virtual teams but also increase profitability.
Odetta has always been a primarily female-led organization, & thus its success, adds even more substance to these studies. Practicing the above-mentioned leadership traits has led us to craft a unique & supportive culture, & we were recognized by Forbes as the #21 Best Startup Employer in the USA.
Primarily women-led, a virtual organization with flexible hours, non-existent hierarchy, & monthly happiness surveys. No, you’re not in a fantasy world. This is Odetta.
Since our founding in May 2018, we have achieved numerous milestones. Like increasing our global workforce to 300+ Odettians, becoming a part of #UnreasonableFUTURE, becoming known for our data sourcing capabilities (with 30% of our clients discovering Odetta via word of mouth), and many more. With a lot of learnings in the bag and a lot more to come, we continue to work towards the future of Odetta, as a successful virtual organization. A future of hope, exploring, & making a difference!
Excited to play your part in such a future?