managing a dispersed team

[mypropertea]

I just got a new job (woo) and I will be managing a newly created dispersed team that are spread out across the south. They will all be based at different offices and won't be together except for team meetings. I suppose a few of them may sometimes see each other at events but it won't be regularly.

The team all have different strengths and need to learn off each other. Also I want them to be happy. How do I encourage good team working and make shore people don't feel isolated?

[mypropertea]

Bump

[Canklesofglitter]

My role is very similar to this. Things that have worked are:

Facebook "staff room" to promote water cooler style chatting

Slack for all project / development / project traffic. Keeps email clear and is great for searching

Regular team teleconferences - some with an agenda, some with a more free agenda

Referring team members to each other so they aren't dependent on the team manager.

[RatherBeIndoors]

Looking at the "learning from each other aspect" could you get them to take turns giving a short talk at the team meetings? Or buddy them up with each other as virtual mentors, in a fairly structured way so with an agreed number of skype/telephone advice sessions over six months? Maybe an online shared area where the whole team can post tips and techniques where things have gone well?

The main things I focus on with remote teams are making sure everyone gets the same info at the same time, so no-one feels left out, and getting round to see everyone as equally as possible.

Congratulations on your new job