Building A Global Team In The 21st Century

Salutations Brand Explorers! 🌍🌎🌏

Building a high-performing global team is no easy feat. It requires a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities of working across cultures and time zones.

However, the rewards can be significant.

A high-performing global team can help you achieve your business goals, expand into new markets, and deliver a better customer experience.

Today we examine key lessons from Airbnb, Zoom, and Deliveroo, three companies that have successfully built high-performing global teams.

Airbnb

Airbnb is a homestay rental company that allows people to list their homes for rent to travelers. Airbnb has over 6 million listings in over 191 countries.

Airbnb's global team is made up of over 5,000 employees in over 180 cities.

Challenge

One of the challenges that Airbnb faced was the need to ensure that its employees were aware of the different cultural norms and expectations of its users.

For example, in some cultures, it is considered rude to make eye contact with a superior, while in other cultures, it is considered a sign of respect.

Strategies

• To address this, Airbnb created a "cultural playbook" that outlines the company's values and expectations for its employees.

• The playbook also includes information on cultural differences that employees may encounter in their work.

• Airbnb also provides training to all new employees on cultural differences. This training covers topics such as body language, eye contact, and gift-giving.

• Airbnb uses a "buddy system" to help new employees get settled in. Each new employee is assigned a mentor who is from the same country or region. This helps the new employee to learn about the company culture and to get connected with other employees.

• Airbnb also has a team of cultural experts who are available to help employees navigate cultural challenges.

• These experts can provide advice on how to communicate effectively with people from different cultures, how to avoid cultural faux pas, and how to resolve cultural conflicts.

Challenge

Another challenge that Airbnb faced was the need to ensure that its global team was aligned with its goals and objectives.

Strategies

• Airbnb addressed this challenge by creating a clear and concise mission statement and by setting clear goals for each team.

• Airbnb also uses a variety of communication tools to keep its global team connected, such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and social media.

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing company that allows people to connect with each other face-to-face, regardless of their location.

Zoom has over 500 million users in over 180 countries.

Zoom's global team is made up of over 2,000 employees in over 60 cities.

Challenge

One of the key challenges that Zoom faced when building its global team was the need to ensure that its employees had the right skills and experience.

Strategies

• Zoom addressed this challenge by creating a rigorous hiring process that includes a technical assessment and a cultural fit interview. This helps to ensure that the company hires the best people for the job, regardless of their location.

• Zoom also provides training to all new employees on the use of its video conferencing software. This training covers topics such as how to set up and use the software, how to manage calls, and how to troubleshoot problems. This helps to ensure that all employees are able to use the software effectively.

• Zoom has a "virtual water cooler" where employees can chat with each other. This helps to create a sense of community and to foster communication between team members.

• Zoom uses a variety of performance management tools to track the performance of its global team. These tools help the company to identify and address any potential problems with the team's performance.

Deliveroo

Deliveroo is a food delivery company that delivers food from restaurants to customers. Deliveroo operates in over 100 cities in over 12 countries.

Deliveroo's global team is made up of over 10,000 employees in over 40 cities.

Challenge

This diversity of cultures can be a challenge, but Deliveroo has found ways to overcome it.

Strategies

• Deliveroo has a team of cultural experts who offer training on cultural differences to all new employees, and provide training to its employees on cultural differences.

• Deliveroo also uses a variety of communication tools like video conferencing, instant messaging, and social media to keep its global team connected.

• These tools help to ensure that everyone on the team is kept up-to-date on the latest developments and that they can easily communicate with each other.

• Deliveroo also has a strong focus on employee engagement. Deliveroo regularly holds team-building events and provides opportunities for employees to give feedback. This helps to create a positive and productive work environment.

• Deliveroo has a "hackathon" every year where employees are encouraged to come up with new ideas for the company. This helps to promote innovation and creativity within the company.

Tactical Strategies To Effectively Build and Scale a Global Team

Building a high-performing global team is not easy, but it is essential for any company that wants to succeed in the global marketplace.

In addition to the insights above, here are some other tactical strategies that brands can use to effectively build and scale a global team:

• Use technology to your advantage. There are a number of tools and technologies that can help you to build and scale a global team, such as video conferencing, project management software, and cloud-based collaboration tools.

• Be flexible and adaptable. Things don't always go according to plan when you're working with a global team. Be prepared to adapt your plans and processes as needed.

• Communicate regularly. Make sure that you're communicating regularly with your global team, both formally and informally. This will help to keep everyone connected and informed.

• Celebrate successes. When your global team achieves a goal, take the time to celebrate their success. This will help to boost morale and motivation.

Conclusion

Building a high-performing global team is more important than ever in today's interconnected world.

By following the lessons learned from Airbnb, Zoom, and Deliveroo, you can build a team that is aligned and motivated to help you to succeed and expand into new markets.

I hope these strategies and examples are helpful as you build your team structure.

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