If you’re catering lunch for a lunch and learn in the office, consider sending distributed employees gift cards or letting them expense whatever mealtime it is in their time zone during that meeting. Undoubtedly, one of the trickiest parts of working across time zones is scheduling meetings. If all meeting participants aren’t on the same page in terms of when the meeting will occur, some people could miss or be late to the meeting, https://remotemode.net/blog/10-tips-on-working-in-different-time-zones/ wasting everyone’s time (and the company’s money). Many business leaders are re-calibrating and tailoring their operations to best support a dispersed workforce. Here we’ll explore several tips for SMB leaders and managers to accommodate employees working across time zones. The main project management tools include Trello, Basecamp, and Asana, which keep track of what everyone is working on as it progresses through the pipeline.
When you’re working in a distributed fashion, learning to be an effective async communicator is going to be the biggest factor in your success. This means that if one team member works while another is sleeping, it does not mean they https://remotemode.net/ can’t communicate or collaborate with each other effectively (unless this pattern repeats itself for several weeks). Start by culling synchronous communication like daily stand-ups and instead move toward written status updates.
Common Mistakes When Working With a Dispersed Team
Take it a step further and have everyone share a local food or drink that you might not find in other places. It’s always fun to learn something new and it’s a great way to bring people a little closer together even when they are physically far apart. 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. With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down many office spaces and sending people into a brand new remote work position practically overnight, it’s safe to say that the idea of the workplace has made a giant shift.
By the time they read your second message and take action, an entire day (or more!) could have passed without them doing anything. Utilizing these tools, you can foster a culture of flexibility and empathy, embracing personalized working hours and showing understanding of time zone challenges. To bypass these obstacles, it is crucial to implement best practices, strategies and effectively leverage essential tools.
Schedule less urgent emails to send at a time where international teammates are active.
For example, implementing a virtual project management platform can help teams coordinate assignments, track individuals’ progress on tasks, and boost overall efficiency. It’s no surprise that an employee’s work environment and office setup will have a dramatic effect on their output. Make sure your team members have an equipped workspace that will help them maintain a high level of productivity. Many remote companies go the extra mile these days and provide a stipend for a standing desk, ergonomic chair, and other essential office gear. And if your team travels frequently, know that there are flexible-term rentals you can book specifically designed for remote workers.
- And this is particularly why we’re seeing a consistent increase in the number of companies employing globally.
- The post outlines how to build an effective time zone agnostic team as a company leader, people manager, colleague, and as a geographically remote person.
- In this article, we’ll explore the benefits, challenges, and essential best practices of working across time zones.
- They will help you craft your perfect blend of flexibility, asynchronous work, and inclusive mindset to push your distributed team towards perpetual success.
When working on a report, for example, internationally dispersed peers may not always be able to ping a co-worker and acquire the needed information straight once. This is why it is critical to maintain thorough written records of all procedures and initiatives. Also, verify that everyone engaged has the necessary administrative access to avoid late-night calls, hold-ups, and rescheduling. Being part of a global team comes with a host of advantages—from learning from each other’s culture to numerous cross-learning opportunities.
Develop a values-based culture
Although managing a geographically scattered workforce might be difficult at times, the method has several advantages. This is why we’re witnessing a constant growth in the number of organizations hiring abroad. To better grasp the trend, let’s break down all of the advantages of working across time zones.