Table Of Contenti
PRAISE FOR VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP
SECOND EDITION
Since the pandemic began, the virtual world has become our oyster. Love it
or hate it, we now teach, learn, lecture, attend committees, manage staff,
harmonize, hold teambuilding events and get to know and trust one another
online. This book is packed with evidence-based tips and useful anecdotes
from someone who has operated in this virtual space for more than 20
years. A timely book at a unique time in history.
Trish Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of
Oxford
This book is a boon for anybody working with other people in the post-
pandemic world. Penny’s updated guidance on how to both anticipate and
manage the challenges of hybrid working will benefit teams of any size.
Especially useful are the hacks for supporting a hybrid team as a leader, these
really help you set the culture and connect your team together.
Liz Calder, President, IIBA UK (International Institute for Business Analysis)
With the prevalence of digital workplaces and the popularity of remote and
hybrid work models, the subject of virtual leadership could not be more
timely. Drawing on her project management roles across different
organisations and sectors and her vast knowledge of the subject, Penny
presents an exceptional and practical guide that will be of use to those
business leaders and project managers who increasingly need to manage
dispersed employees.
Niki Panteli, Professor of Digital Business, Royal Holloway University of
London
With a new chapter on the formidable challenges that hybrid working
presents, Virtual Leadership is more relevant than ever. Like it or not, more
and more organizations are moving to a hybrid work model, yet few leaders
know how to create a truly level playing field among when some team
members work in person and others remotely. This book provides dozens of
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practical tips for mastering the hybrid workplace and avoiding ‘proximity
bias’ by creating shared team norms and policies that all regard as fair. This
newest version of Virtual Leadership comes at a perfect time for those who
struggle to create an equitable workplace, no matter where, or when, people
work.
Nancy Settle-Murphy, author of Leading Effective Virtual Teams, USA
During the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual and now hybrid working have become
essential. We can choose whether we see and experience them as constraints,
or routes to new possibilities. Penny has lots of advice on how, with intentional
design and thoughtful use of appropriate technology and tools, we can lead
virtual and hybrid teams and teamwork to be engaging, inclusive and high-
performing – while maintaining the inherent advantages such as flexible
location and lower cost. She explores the all-important mindset and behaviour
to do this well, and gives practical suggestions and illustrations.
Sarah Wilson, Vice President Global Leadership Development, Unilever
As a GP working as the Clinical Director of a Primary Care Network
requiring GPs at different practices to work together at scale, the suggestions
and practical advice on convening virtual meetings has been invaluable. We
have even managed cross practice collaborative workshops using suggested
resources. General Practice teams are changing for example, the introduction
of virtual Multi-Disciplinary Teams to facilitate patient care. I have used the
book to support colleagues’ development, facilitate tutorials with GP
registrars and support hybrid patient virtual consultations, This is truly a
book for our time.
Susan Denton, GP and Clinical Director, North Guildford PCN
Praise for the First Edition
In my role within a global organization, I see daily the need for better
leadership for remote teams working towards a common goal. Dr Penny
Pullan offers us all the help that we need in this with insight, practical
guidance and a dash of inspiration, which is always welcome. Covering all
the aspects of time, language, culture, and generations which make this a
complicated leadership task, the book shows us all a clear path to success in
this virtual world we all work in today.
Peter Taylor, Head of Global PMO at Ceridian and author of The Lazy Project
Manager
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This book will guide you to becoming an effective and graceful leader of
virtual teams. Penny Pullan hits all the key points around establishing,
nurturing and working with diverse groups, wherever their individual
members may be located. Virtual Leadership reveals the importance of a
leader mindset, deals with technology and virtual meetings, lays out a path
for managing virtual work in between meetings, and addresses the
complications and pitfalls that every virtual worker faces. Throughout it all,
the author shines a light on the often-overlooked truth about virtual work:
that its most important aspect has nothing to do with technology, and
everything to do with being human. Stop suffering through virtual work.
Instead, transform it through applying the skills and practices in this essential
handbook.
Rachel Smith, Consultant, Facilitator and Program Manager, USA
Penny’s latest book is your own personal leadership coach. Pragmatic and
practical, this book will help you avoid horrible virtual meetings and quickly
boost productivity wherever your team are based. Targeted sections let you
dive into solutions for issues you are facing with your teams today. Highly
recommended for team leaders, managers and those working virtually
whether in a formal leadership position or not.
Elizabeth Harrin, author of Engaging Stakeholders on Projects, UK
I am so pleased that Penny has written this book and can share her skill and
inspiration for really successful virtual working with even more people. When
I met Penny, I was working with three global companies and was spending half
of my days (and lots of early mornings and late nights) on calls with colleagues.
Penny taught me so much about how to make these into really successful
meetings and reading this book reminded me of all that and more. Penny is
also the master of communicating in a clear and simple way, even though the
subject matter is complex. I recommend this book to everyone who needs to do
business in a ‘same time, different place’ context – I am confident that practising
what Penny recommends will transform the quality of your work.
Ruth Murray-Webster, Director, Potentiality UK and Visiting Fellow, Oxford
Saïd Business School
Penny has done a magnificent job of covering every single element which
you need to master. I’ve been managing virtual teams for over 20 years
and thought I knew it all. I didn’t. And you won’t either until you have
read this book.
Pete Bennett, Founder, Buzz Conferencing, UK
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Dr Pullan drills down on the world of virtual work teams to build a baseline
for managers in the 21st century. Virtual teams are flexible in place and time,
pull from the brightest talent and offer a 24/7 cycle, and yet have challenges
that require knowledge for effective leadership. Pullan puts the benefits of
virtual working in a context that managers can trust. Virtual Leadership
should be required reading for every leader, project manager and executive,
virtual or traditional. Get this book in the hands of your leadership team.
Tom Wise, Assistant Professor of Project Management, Harrisburg University
of Science and Technology, and author of Trust in Virtual Teams, USA
As someone who has spent over twenty years living the virtual life, I loved
this book! Penny’s book has creatively captured the foibles and tricks and
tips for success with virtual leadership.
Professor Eddie Obeng, speaker, innovator and author, Learning Director of
Pentacle the Virtual Business School and Professor of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation at Henley Business School
This book is a comprehensive handbook for anyone who spends time in the
virtual world of work. A lot more than just insights into the technologies, it
is a detailed, practical guide to all aspects of team building, managing
meetings, engaging across cultures and styles, and so much more. It is
indispensable and required reading for leaders in the modern workplace.
Graeme Codrington, CEO of TomorrowToday, futurist and expert on the future
of work
When I first began to think about virtual working, I didn’t predict all the
different factors that need to be taken into consideration and learned a lot
by trial and error. I would have saved a lot of time and energy by reading
this book! Even now, with several years’ experience in virtual working, I
found this book chock-full of useful tips and ideas that will help me to be
far more effective going forward. I hope that this book will become a classic.
It certainly deserves its space on my bookshelf as both a primer that I can
lend to newbies and a very useful resource for me to use as I think through
and address increasing the complexity of virtual working in multiple time
zones in the world of work.
Emma Langman, Head of Talent working in international retail, Kuwait
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At a time of increasing globalization, virtual working is a very real challenge
to organizations and to my own world of project, programme, portfolio and
change management. Both the 24/7 global economy and mobile working
without a permanent office means we have to find different but effective
ways of working. We also need to find successful ways to collaborate and to
build strong relationships, confidence and trust with clients and teams when
we cannot meet face-to-face. Virtual Leadership helps to address and resolve
these issues. Penny has a wonderfully engaging and straightforward way of
writing, and her book looks across a range of sectors and situations for
virtual working and virtual leadership. I certainly recommend Virtual
Leadership to individuals and organizations grappling with the complexity
of virtual working.
Sarah Coleman, Project, Programme and Change Consultant and Educator;
author of Project Leadership
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Virtual Leadership
Practical strategies for success
with remote or hybrid work and teams
SECOND EDITION
Penny Pullan
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Publisher’s note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is
accurate at the time of going to press, and the publishers and author cannot accept responsibility
for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to
any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication can be
accepted by the editor, the publishers or the author.
First edition published in Great Britain and the United States in 2016 by Kogan Page Limited
Second edition published in 2022
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted
under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the
case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries
concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned
addresses:
2nd Floor, 45 Gee Street 8 W 38th Street, Suite 902 4737/23 Ansari Road
London New York, NY 10018 Daryaganj
EC1V 3RS USA New Delhi 110002
United Kingdom India
www.koganpage.com
Kogan Page books are printed on paper from sustainable forests.
© Penny Pullan 2016, 2022
The right of Penny Pullan to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance
with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBNs
Hardback 978 1 3986 0429 2
Paperback 978 1 3986 0427 8
Ebook 978 1 3986 0428 5
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Pullan, Penny, author.
Title: Virtual leadership: practical strategies for success with remote or hybrid work and teams / Penny
Pullan.
Description: Second edition.| London, United Kingdom; New York, NY: Kogan Page, 2022. | Includes
bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “Remote working and virtual business practices are
now embedded in companies across all industries. Learn the best practices and skills needed to
effectively manage your team with this guide to virtual leadership. Virtual Leadership offers
straightforward and proven methods for developing strategies to lead virtual teams. This guide for the
modern leader explains how to optimize productivity and drive engagement by addressing common
challenges, such as creating cohesive teams, working across time zones and cultures and handling
offline distractions. Clear guidance is offered on how to lead in and outside of meetings to ensure
that those working remotely are effectively steered. The fully revised second edition provides key
information on the latest developments in virtual leadership and how to lead team members adopting
a hybrid working approach (partly virtual but not entirely) in detail. New cases studies from education,
community, healthcare and government also feature to highlight insights that can be taken from other
fields. Leading virtual teams requires a new set of skills and a facilitative leadership approach, Virtual
Leadership is here to help”– Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021059785 (print) | LCCN 2021059786 (ebook) | ISBN 9781398604278 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781398604292 (hardback) | ISBN 9781398604285 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Virtual work teams–Management. | Virtual reality in management.
Classification: LCC HD66 .P85 2022 (print) | LCC HD66 (ebook) | DDC 658.4/022–dc23/eng/20211214
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059785
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059786
Typeset by Integra Software Services, Pondicherry
Print production managed by Jellyfish
Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
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CONTENTS
Preface to the second edition xiii
Foreword to the first edition xv
Introduction 1
01 The ups and downs of virtual working 12
Where virtual working works well 12
When virtual working doesn’t work 15
Where virtual work shares challenges with in-person work 19
Where virtual work has unique challenges 20
Surveying the world of virtual work 23
Summary 26
Questions for reflection 27
References 27
02 Virtual leadership, mindset and approach 28
Leadership has changed 30
Virtual leadership 38
Starting with self: your values and your motivations 39
Your mindset and attitudes 42
Who am I? 50
How can I change and develop myself? 51
What is my virtual identity? 52
Your environment for virtual leadership 55
Summary 57
Questions for reflection 57
References and further reading 58
03 Working virtually with others 60
Knowing others 62
Trust in virtual teams 66
Virtual team complexity 71
