9 Lessons Learned by Working Remote in a Different Time Zone

Additionally, team members can create a shared document with their work schedules highlighting no-contact hours to ensure clear boundaries are being set and respected. The time zones of people working in a company has a big impact on different aspects such as project collaboration and communication between the team members. 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 working across time zones 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. When assessing team chat and collaboration apps for your distributed team, look for features that allow flexibility, autonomy, seamless collaboration, and transparent availability status options. To successfully utilize key principles of asynchronous communication to their advantage, distributed teams need to prioritize efficient, written communication.

It’s important to completely prepare for meetings, especially when people are dialing in and joining the video conference from all over the world. Even while many companies are reopening their office spaces, it may look a little different with hybrid events and more people still working from home.

Default to asynchronous communication

You don’t have to use your fingers to figure out what time it is in various cities around the world. There are plenty of tools out there ready to lend a hand, plus the apps you’re already familiar with likely have options and settings that may be helpful when dealing with people on different longitudes.

Whether you’re using an Exchange server or relying on Google, calendaring software can make appointment setting a breeze. All team members need to have their calendar properly set up with their work time zone, as mentioned, for proper synchronization. Luckily, there are plenty of tools available to help with those grueling calculations. Web-based converters, browser plugins or mobile apps at the ready can eliminate all guesswork.

Collaboration and communication difficulties

Next, you’ll want to make asynchronous communication the norm while leaving room for synchronous team-building. Sometimes, scheduling a meeting at a time that works for all timezones is easier said than done. For example, if you’re based in the U.S. and have teams in Asia and California, finding a time that fits into everyone’s schedules and usual work hours can be tricky. Waking up to a silent team chat, phone, or online communication tool, or conversely, in the middle of a hectic workday schedule for employees in other countries, can feel unsettling or overwhelming. Compared to the advantages, the disadvantages of working in multiple time zones end up being minor inconveniences. This is evidenced by the fact that more and more companies are opting to work remotely, withresearch from Bluefacepredicting that remote work will rival office work by 2025.