Characteristics of Virtual leaders

The World around us is changing, and we need to change with it. Should we? How? Well we know one thing, the workplace is changing with emerging technology.

In the virtual workplaces, new and innovative methods to lead and manage people and resources are emerging; Nerds with computers, located in the basements of their parents house, not meeting a soul in the outside world for days at end, are now leaders in their own virtual world. People recognize their "handles", nick names, or internet IDs, and respect their point of views and opinions. So it makes us wonder that what makes a good virtual leader?
The students from the two sections of this class brainstormed to come up with the following list. Read on.............

Characteristics of virtual leaders

Traditional to virtual leaders
Virtual leaders should utilize the same characteristics as traditional leaders.
- Creative and innovative
o Developing new products and services, e.g. tutorials
o Good research skills.
o Open to ideas, new technology.
- Tolerance to diversity
o Adheres to ethics and values and enforces those values in the virtual forum.
- Proactive, pacesetter, visionary.
- Establishes shared vision through modeling and real life examples.
- Ability to maintain focus and lead a group on one particular theme.

Email
- Communicates frequently via e-mail
- Is accessible virtually (e-mail).
- Quick turn around in responses
- Has a good command over written language

Geographically dispersed locations
- The leader has no geographical boundaries. Works with global members
- Multi-language domination
- Multicultural understanding

Distance education
- Provides varied and updated information through one or more outlets.
- Is knowledgeable about the subject area
- Good time managers, available at the right times
- Good information processing and evaluation skills.

Internet presence
- Knowledgeable about the available technological tools
- Participates in Blogs, wikis or other social collaborative tools of their expertise or interests
- Provides relevant information related to the topic under discussion.
- Maintains presence through a well maintained and updated website
- Takes the lead in sharing best practices and localized research.
- Promoting and leading tool adaption among participants.

Communication technology
- Simultaneous participation in multiple meetings (Is that good or bad?).