Create a single frame video conference using a peopleclock to help participants concentrate and engage better.

People are always asking me about good, proven techniques for developing and supporting teams, networks and communities so heres an introduction to my favourite fifteen techniques for teams.

Science Daily, “Establishing Trust Online Is Critical For Online Communication Say NJIT Experts” reports the conclusions of a paper “Swift Trust in Virtual Teams".

The Virtual Team Opportunity Iceberg is a very simple spreadsheet for letting you and your fellow team members instantly spot the potential for improvement in your teams. It's not intended to be precise - a show of hands will do - but it can be a great team ice-breaker!

Pheromone-based messaging is the oldest and most evolved form of biological signalling using chemicals to communicate through smell and taste. Today’s virtual teams and mobile groups can use it to improve the way they use email, messaging and presence-aware technologies.

Gerold Keefer, in a paper Project Success Prediction Based on Communication Reliability Analysis suggests that the effectiveness of a teams communication can be assessed in 2 dimensions: Reliability and Distance.

There are four myths about teams which are particularly deadly because each of them is nearly true. Myth1: Talent is the most important thing in any team. Myth2: The team’s goals won't suddenly change without anyone realising it. Myth3: 'Collaboration' means basically the same thing to all team members. Myth4: You should always play 'win-win'

Charles Handy is one of the true pioneers of virtual working: promoting the concept of the virtual organisation long before todays enabling technologies appeared.

Charles Handy is one of the true pioneers of virtual working: promoting the concept of the virtual organisation long before todays enabling technologies appeared.

According to The blathering boss (November 2005) one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to improve your meetings is using techniques like 'Bullshit Bingo' to reduce the use of meaningless phrases like Paradigm shift, Mission critical, Let's take it offline, Drill down, Drop the ball, Empowerment, Think outside the box, On the same page, Don't reinvent the wheel, Proactive, Create synergies, Ramp up, Raising the bar, Touch base and Win-win. On the other hand perhaps no one would be able to speak at all!