Global teams work better when members get to know one another. Team members give their colleagues the benefit of the doubt, pick up the phone when issues arise, and are generally more effective at collaborating. But given tight travel budgets, the disruption to work and family, and the enormous carbon footprint associated with global travel, it’s not always feasible to give team members the opportunity to meet face-to-face. You have to be strategic about when and how your team gets together.