If we have other managers reporting to us, we also need to periodically assess how virtualized or virtualizing they are becoming.

One way we might get a handle on this is, in the context of an overall endeavor to increase everybody’s appreciation for what the people around them do, to have these managers train us to do one of their subordinates’ jobs. If they can’t do it effectively, there’s a better than average chance they may be “virtual people” propagating a dissociative style.

Common sense has to prevail in this assessment, though. For example, a manager might not be able to train us to do the job of a highly technical subordinate, such as a computer programmer, yet still be an effective leader.