Global business teams are comprised of a group of individuals working in different cultures, with different nationalities and who come together to coordinate the operations of a multinational business enterprise.
What are the Global Business Team Challenges?
Global teams can face the same challenges as domestic teams, namely: lack of a clear understanding of corporate objectives, improper alignment of individual team member goals, and an imbalance of skill sets to allow the team to execute the needed tasks optimally. In addition, these global team challenges are further complicated by geographic distance, language differences and cultural diversity, all of which create communication barriers that can impede team performance. Overcoming these challenges requires a balancing of team member relationships and the desired performance outcomes.
Our focus on Global Team Building addresses the following dimensions:
- Team leadership
- Structuring the global business team
- Managing the team process
- Overcoming communication barriers
- Cultivating a culture of trust
- Virtual team meetings
How do we do it?
Coaching
Initially we meet with the team leader for a half day session to be briefed on the global objectives of the business, and the make-up of the global team members including their locations, cultural backgrounds, responsibilities and skill sets. If the team leader is new to the position, we will undertake a one-on-one follow-up, 1 day coaching session, designed to familiarize the leader with the intercultural dynamics of the global team members, and an assessment of the leader's own cultural awareness.
Workshop
The first meeting between the team leader and team members is held face to face in a 2 day workshop session. Through this workshop participants learn:
- The "global" objectives of the company and the strategies for achieving these objectives.
- The roles and responsibilities of the team leader and team members
- How team member skill sets align to meet corporate objectives
- Team collaboration and trust
- Effective communication across technology
- Leveraging cross-cultural differences
- Protocols for effective follow-up team meetings
Ongoing, we work virtually with the team leader and team members to address specific issues and ensure a smooth flow in communication.