It can be challenging to navigate time zones, schedules, and technological difficulties when working virtually. Add in the need for specialized team training, and you might find yourself in a pickle. How can you train someone you've never met with in person? How do you ensure they understand what you’re teaching? In this presentation of Techniques & Tools for Training Strong Distributed Teams, we've got some epic tips and techniques to interactively train your virtual team. This presentation is part of the Virtual Life Webinar Series, focusing on building a community of distributed workers and addressing common topics we all face. The panelist in this webinar is Anna Danes with Managing-Virtual-Teams.com and it was moderated by Mandy Ross, Director of Social and Content Marketing at Sococo.

1. #SococoLife Webinar Series
Presented to you in partnership by:
Techniques & Tools For Training
Strong Distributed Teams

2. Agenda
● :05 Introductions
● :30 Techniques & Tools For Training
Strong Distributed Teams Presentation
● :20 Q&A
● :05 Key Takeaways & Wrap Up

3. Introductions!
Anna Danes - Panelist
Holds a Degree in Communication, working in web companies since 2000. She has collaborated in the
launch of some of Spain's biggest websites, such as Atrapalo.com and Emagister.com. During her
years of experience working with online companies, she has encountered the types of issues that
companies face by having workers outside of their offices, or even across their borders.
In 2008 she founded Ricaris Have a Nice Day SL, and thanks to this experience she is
knowledgeable in the tools that help strengthen online teams of workers, and a firm believer in
the power of well-managed virtual teams.
Anna is now the CEO of Managing Virtual Teams where she teaches courses and consults for
companies with global teams. Her experience working in the United States, Asia and Europe
brings the added advantage of understanding the ways of work on those three continents.

4. Introductions!
Mandy Ross - Moderator
Mandy recently moved into the role of Director of Marketing for Sococo, after
serving as Director of Program Management since 2012. Her past employers
include Handspring, Palm, Apple, Sony and Boeing.
A telecommuter since 2005, she lives for helping distributed teams establish
remote work best practices by connecting people to create thought leadership
in the virtual world.

5. Let’s Get Started!
Techniques & Tools For Training Strong
Distributed Teams

6. People

7. People
Activate "Super
Communication"
Distributed teams have their
own particularities and
challenges. To defeat them:
communicate better, more
and diversify your channels.

8. People
The smaller the audience,
the greater the interaction.
Smaller groups (under 10
participants) are ideal for
virtual trainings. The larger the
group, the less opportunity for
interaction is possible.

9. People
Take the time for a longer
icebreaker.
Gauge the team’s familiarity with
each other and make introductions
with fun questions based on this.
The more common ground a team
has, the more open they are to
learning together.

10. People
Be particularly mindful of
individual engagement.
Ask direct questions of
participants that seem to be
fading. Reinforce what they say
and give praise to encourage
participation. Ensure they
understand ahead of time that the
training is interactive.

11. Process

12. Process
Be extremely well
prepared.
Know your audience ahead
of time, and ensure the
training will meet their
specific needs. A quick
survey of the team to be
trained can help you
understand the level of team
knowledge and how you can
best prepare.

13. Process
The more interactive, the
better.
We are used to a fast pace of
media flying through our lives via
tv, internet, etc. Subject matter
expertise is not enough - it’s
about gaining and retaining
engagement.

14. Process
Check results as you train.
Without body language, gauging
progress is tricky. Short quizzes
will measure what is and isn’t
sinking in. Provide opportunities for
students to shine by demonstrating
the knowledge they’ve gained.

15. Process
Use real life cases
frequently.
Training subject matter
becomes more relatable when
describing a common
frustration or problem the team
is solving. Encourage them to
share their personal use
cases.

16. Process
Repetition must be more
frequent.
Feedback, training and purpose
must be underscored more
often. Virtual teams don’t have
the same immediacy of
knowledge sinking in. Instructors
must be patient with slower
learning.

17. Technology

18. Technology
Your virtual training toolkit
needs to include:
● White board
● Video/audio/chat
● Video editor
● Accessible storage space
● Interactive quiz forms
● Tools specific to the training
needs of the team

19. Technology
Record and edit your training.
Creating a set of 2 - 10 minute
clips that capture the entire
training. Students benefit greatly
by having a visual explanation of
the training to which they can later
refer during practical applications.
Make sure they are organized and
accessible.

20. Q & A
Q & A

21. Key takeaways
● Be prepared and know your audience very well.
● Repetition and reinforcement of lessons is the best way
for a virtual team to learn.
● Keep trainings highly interactive.
● Monitor and encourage individual engagement.
● Learnings must be “real life” relatable.
● Hands-on training returns the best results virtually.

22. Virtual Life Webinar Series
Thanks for coming!