"People have become smarter about how to communicate and conduct business globally and we see that with the explosion of the Web. Today's workforce is realizing the significant benefits that virtual tools provide in saving time and money, allowing them to be more productive."

Tips for getting the most out of _________________

• Find a champion. Select someone to motivate and inspire a team or organization to use the new tool. He or she can be anyone or anywhere in the organization, as long as they know the technology. The champion must also have insight about the challenges that people in a virtual environment face.

• Set clear expectations. The champion must set clear expectations for how the technology is to be used to improve teamwork. Print them on a reference card for everyone to post on their computer monitor and view.

• Train people only on methods and essential features they will use now. Give people only as much as they can apply right now, today. Then stop. Let people digest what they have learned, practice it in their real work and get comfortable with it. Then introduce new features.

• Teach new skills over time. To create true teamwork, the best practices and skills have to keep evolving. Therefore, people need more learning and support, one step at a time.

"If people don't find value in a tool, they'll stop using it. The key is to embrace collaborative technology and introduce it in new ways that drive high-performance teamwork."