Whenever possible, it’s important to develop the ability to communicate asynchronously when working remotely. No matter where your whole team is located and what time zone or geography separates you, effective async communication allows you to stay connected working remotely in a different time zone effectively. Certain etiquette should also be followed in terms of communication while working across time zones. Unless there’s an urgent situation, employees should avoid contacting colleagues when they’re outside of their working hours.

Freelancing is lonely without any contact, and, as we mentioned in this post on writing freelance resumes, clients often hire based on sensing a personal connection with the freelancer. This means your working relationship will be better if you can have some level of personal contact. You can add due dates, color-coded labels, and individual team members to each task (referred to as a “card”) so that there is never any doubt on who should be working on what and when.

Greenwich Mean Time

Suffice it to say, when working with teammates in different time zones, finding a good time for a meeting is a constant battle full of compromises. Embrace the challenge and take advantage of the opportunities that remote work has to offer, and you’ll be well on your way to building a successful career that spans the globe. Also, show empathy and understanding towards your team members or remote employees, as they may be making similar sacrifices to accommodate your needs. Maintaining open lines of communication and a positive attitude can go a long way in building strong relationships with your colleagues.

tips working across time zones

Working during one chunk of the day caters to your timezone, followed by another shift that caters to another team’s timezone, is often called a split shift. While creating processes that allow employees to work in different timezones is logistically beneficial, on a deeper level, it also makes it easier for diverse global talent to join your team. If so, then you know the challenges in staying on the same page that come with working remotely. How many of us often find ourselves hitting loose ends and empty, awkward pauses when talking to a colleague who is 10 hours ahead of our time zone? You have to navigate not just the time difference but the difference in language, accent, and even energy levels. The person on the other end of the Teams or Zoom call is having their last call of the day and you are just getting started with the highest possible energy level or vice versa.

Company

However, shifting assumptions and processes is essential for global teams to thrive and deliver outstanding results. With employees working in multiple time zones, it’s crucial to discuss differing schedules openly and regularly. When teams are working across timezones, real-time communication via IM (instant messaging) and meetings can be challenging. Sometimes they might be overused for matters that teams can discuss and align asynchronously. Weighing in on urgency and priority shows respect for everyone’s time and schedule and helps you and your colleagues choose a better communication method.

  • Be aware and sensitive to the fact that you might be starting your day when someone else is ending theirs.
  • Likewise, you should also encourage colleagues to communicate when they’re running into timezone blockers.
  • Whether you’re putting together a remote team, working with a digital nomad, or have officers across the world, I hope these tips and my hard-learned lessons help you out.
  • You can add due dates, color-coded labels, and individual team members to each task (referred to as a “card”) so that there is never any doubt on who should be working on what and when.
  • Particularly if you don’t introduce new processes to manage a truly global team.
  • Of course, differences in locations and backgrounds can also add another layer to the misunderstanding and distrust.

And today, I’m excited to share these tips with you, and I hope this will help you succeed in facing this popular concern among aspiring remote workers and digital nomads. The world is a changin’ and working across time zones is becoming more and more common for different industries. Whether you’re putting together a remote team, working with a digital nomad, or have officers across https://remotemode.net/ the world, I hope these tips and my hard-learned lessons help you out. Mastering async communication offers increased flexibility, improved focus, better global collaboration, and inclusive participation as you allow remote employees to complete their work in their own time. It also makes space for autonomy, reduces pressure, and improves work-life balance for global teams.