According to a Software Advice study, 44% of employees in the United Kingdom work with colleagues based in other countries at least once a week. 83% must manage time zone differences of up to 8 hours, thus widening the communication gap even further. In fact, 79% of employees reported experiencing more meetings that favor one country than another. If we take into consideration local labor laws, cultural norms, and caregiving responsibilities, working hours that overlap time zones shrink even further. The point? Time zones matter to the global employee experience.
Virtual team communication executed thoughtfully and inclusively can prevent gaps in knowledge and the sense of disconnection among field offices and remote workers. One of RW3 CultureWizard’s most popular courses, Inclusive Virtual Teams, advises teams to establish structures that are inclusive of remote and hybrid workers, both in terms of everyday collaboration, as well as managing bad news and feedback.
Asynchronous global teamwork means collaborating in an environment where it is not necessary to be working during the same time as your colleagues. It allows teams to share updates, give feedback, and move projects forward on their own schedules, without the pressure of instant replies or constant meetings. An example of encouraging asynchronous collaboration would be to set up a dedicated channel that people can update and check during their working hours, allowing for an exchange of information with reasonable boundaries for employees.
The key aspects of successful asynchronous global teamwork include:
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Consistent Consideration of Time Zone Differences
Respect the time zones and work schedules of your colleagues. If there is an urgent deadline, take into consideration the time differences in order to manage expectations. Rotate meeting times to ensure that there is no favoring one part of the world over another, recording the meetings for those who are unable to join.
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Leverage Different Means of Communication
One of the suggestions in our Inclusive Virtual Teams course is to set up a virtual “watercooler”. This can come in the form of an ongoing team or company-wide chat, which accommodates various communication preferences, including written, visual, or audio messages.
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Prioritize Documentation for more Effective Communication
Whether it means detailed notes or recordings of meetings, live-edit project management platforms, or messaging apps, written documentation of collaboration allows teams to focus the work itself rather than worrying about what they missed while out of office.
Flexible and inclusive team habits is proven to increase productivity, employee engagement, and up-to-date knowledge-sharing. Therefore, providing an asynchronous environment inclusive of remote, hybrid, and far-flung team members opens up new possibilities for engagement and innovation within your entire global team.
Of course time zones differences aren't the only thing to disrupt global teamwork. Try our course Impact of Culture on Teamwork to learn how to make the most of culturally different behaviors.
