Thanks for your response. I was part of the team before, but only for 2 months. Most of the team members had been there for over a year. I definitely agree that the most important thing is to consider how to present new initiatives and ideas to the team.

I recently took over as leader of a team. Their previous leader accepted a new job and had to step down. What is the best practice for taking over a leadership role from someone else? Should I stick with the decision making process, meeting format, and other rules that the previous leader had in place? I am afraid to change too much because I am the newest member of the team and don't want to shake everything up right away.

I am a team leader for a group of Online Teachers. Each of us works from home and we never meet in person. We have regular meetings that take place over the phone. Does anyone have any suggestions or insights for leading a team that never meets in person? I have trouble encouraging participation. It seems easy for individuals to hide behind their phone receiver and talk very little. Also, do you have any tips for making a phone meeting seem more personal?