Remote work can feel isolating – according to Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2021 report, 16% of remote workers say loneliness is their biggest workplace struggle. Routinely chatting (with the camera on) can help managers maintain awareness of working remotely in a different time zone their team’s mental health and workload. For example, if a manager detects an employee’s tone and body language have shifted negatively, they can politely and privately ask if the worker is okay and if there’s anything they can do to help.
- Outline specific responsibilities and qualifications, and learn about best practices for attracting the right candidates for the role.
- For those living in tiny apartments, working from bed couldn’t be a long-term option, so many people found themselves looking for a new place.
- On-the-fly collaboration tends to occur less frequently when working across time zones, but the right tools can change that.
- These chats are normally only 2-3 people maximum, so more often than not it’s possible to find a time that works for everyone across multiple time zones.
Plus, you need to understand the differences between synchronous and asynchronous communication, and when to use each. So, those are some of the best practices for working across multiple time zones that can hopefully help you and your team. Working and collaborating with a team with different locations and time zones can pose its own challenges compared to the traditional way that we all know. Remember that to make this way of working successful, you will need a healthy mix of flexibility, understanding, and an agile approach. For one, organizations should consider setting and respecting their team’s time zone boundaries.
Access to a global talent pool
Did you know that project management software and tools make your entire team organized? It enables you to allow everybody to have a shared repository where files can be kept for smooth retrieval at any time. We have a few standing methods of making sure these types of communication happen often, including the daily pair call and weekly or biweekly mastermind chats.
If you have the option, turn it on and at last save yourself from accidentally scheduling a meeting during an inconvenient time. Otherwise, you can always verify the location of the attendees before you send out the planner. Apps like Doodle, allow you to offer multiple times and let people select all that will work for them.
Tools
Finally, a successful asynchronous collaboration calls for a set of functional tools to seamlessly tie all autonomous teams and operations together. Using a single, multifunctional tool such as Pumble, to streamline diverse conversations and collaborative projects across time zones can increase overall productivity by 30%. Teams operating across time zones require a unique set of functionalities specifically customized to meet the needs of the asynchronous workforce.