That same week, a corporate trainer for a multi-national company told me he was halfway through a management training course when he realized all these managers really wanted to know was how to better communicate with their far-flung teams. He chucked the rest of his agenda and focused on that single topic for the balance of the course.

A few weeks earlier, I spoke to a group at IBM -- 100% of whom work from home. When I asked these virtual workers their favorite mode of communication, their nearly unanimous response was "in person".

Unfortunately, with the combination of technology that makes working from Starbucks an option and corporate budgets that make flying in for team-building sessions as rare as raises, "in person" is rarely an option. We need a Plan B.

So, what is in the savvy communicator’s Plan B? Plenty. Here are four ways to create your own virtual water cooler and keep in touch with your team.

1) Pick up the phone for no apparent reason.

The real magic of the water cooler conversation was its spontaneity. It was never a planned event. I ran a virtual team across two countries and found the most valuable information was often traded when I made a random call just to check in.

The key was to call with no agenda -- to ask what’s going on, listen, then fill them in on what was happening on my end that would interest them. The desire and the need to be “in the know” is exaggerated when we are working away from colleagues and bosses.

2) Schedule time for general discussion on conference calls.

And I don’t mean that perfunctory request for “AOBs” (any other business) tacked on the end of an already mind-numbingly long call.

Try STARTING a call with a request for “AOAs” – (any other agendas). You may find that over half your team wants to talk about something that isn’t even on your agenda. By starting with what’s on their minds, you’ll have more luck engaging them with what’s on yours.

3) “Waste time” instant messaging.

Instant messages have an informal, spontaneous aspect that makes them far superior to email for just checking in, taking a pulse or catching up with a colleague. As a manager, being available for IM conversations is the virtual version of an open door policy. You might even block time in your schedule each day and let your staff know what your “IM office hours” are.

4) Make your schedule transparent.

One communication challenge in the virtual world is your staff not knowing when to talk to you. By making your schedule available to everyone you lessen both the frustration of them constantly missing you when they call and the danger that they will just stop trying.

I had a boss who was a real pro at this. He circulated such detailed schedules that even when he was out of the country for weeks at a time, I could figure out when to catch him on his cell phone in an airport or between meetings.

5) You tell me.

What has worked well for you and your virtual team? Send your favorite virtual communication techniques to: info@gabbettgroup.com.

We’ll feature the best ones in next month’s issue of The Savvy Communicator. If you are not yet a subscriber to our monthly newsletter, sign-up on our website at www.gabbettgroup.com or just say “add me” in the text of an email to info@gabbettgroup.com.

Oh yeah. One more thing. If anyone out there has worked MORE than nine years without meeting your boss, then we might just have to send you a prize.