Virtual Leadership

"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." * Dr 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 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." * Dr 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." * Dr Susan Denton, GP and Clinical Director, North Guildford PCN *
"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’ *
"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." * Dr 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 *
"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 *
"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 *
"What I love about this book is the richness of practical insights. These come from Penny's impeccable academic background, her vast corporate experience and her ability to simply connect challenges to solutions. If you are leading virtually, your colleagues will be glad you've read this book. They should too." * Jacqui Harper MBE, Author of 'Executive Presentations' and former BBC Anchor *