Managing remote teams - looking for input

[Baelbu]

Hi all, I'm working on two articles about managing remote developers and am looking for input from project managers with experience managing remote/virtual teams.

1. What do you wish someone had told you about managing remote teams?

2. Did anything surprise you about working with remote teams? If so, what?

3. What countries do you prefer when hiring remote developers and why?

Any input will be helpful and if input is used, we'll cite/quote you in the article (unless you express otherwise). Thanks!

[kwalford]

Where are you planning on publicising your articles?

[Baelbu]

They're going to be submitted as guest posts to a few project management blogs, but extended posts will be put on blog.specfox.com.