asetra b&s

If you’re new to international business, this may take some time to get used to, especially when it comes to remembering everyone’s current time zone. Follow these 5 tips to effectively manage teams across time zones
Utilize tools to assist in managing time zones. Questions over how to ensure equal input, how to streamline meetings, and how to collaborate effectively are all valid concerns. Working with a distributed team can be challenging at first because it’s difficult to build the kind of rapport that comes naturally when working in an office setting.

–
Maintain order and understand your zones
Make use of Google Calendar
Regularly and clearly communicate
Plan your day appropriately. When considering candidates from different regions than where the company is based, SMB leaders must review how their taxes, payroll, compliance, recruiting, and benefits may be affected. Managers of dispersed teams should make a conscious effort to check in regularly and connect with individual team members as well as the group as a whole. These meetings not only improve the relationships between specific colleagues, but also contribute to maintaining team cohesion. During onboarding, managers should confirm new hires’ working hours and understand exactly when they’ll be available. If the new hire is in a different time zone than the manager, it’s critical for the manager to clearly lay out all applicable goals, expectations, and priorities.

Pro: Time and place freedom boosts productivity

On-the-fly collaboration tends to occur less frequently when working across time zones, but the right tools can change that. For example, implementing a virtual project management platform can help teams coordinate assignments, track individuals’ progress on tasks, and boost overall efficiency. Meetings can be set up according to each manager’s personal time zone, leaving everyone scrambling to come working remotely in a different time zone up with their own time zone. Having an official time zone means everyone will set and communicate deadlines and meetings using the same time zone, regardless of their location. By doing this, employees can quickly determine the time difference between their location and their office. Whenever possible, it’s important to develop the ability to communicate asynchronously when working remotely.

• GitLab might be the world’s largest fully distributed company with 1,400+ remote workers in 65+ countries.
• You can do this via phone calls, video chats, or even using an instant messaging platform like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
• Ideally, you’ll write a memo before each meeting to help attendees know what to expect and how to prepare.
• Expecting your teammates to be «always-on» doesn’t create the best culture and might make them feel disrespected.
• If they can’t access the file, they’ll have to wait for you to be online again.
• In such situations, time and resources which could have been allocated somewhere else are usually wasted on trying to get the job done.

These rules can be reviewed and referred to by employees, so they know what to do and what is expected of them. If the issue is complex or there are dependencies involved, you might find yourself drafting a paragraph (or two) and editing your message for clarity and tone that can get lost in translation. The future of work is remote, which means negotiating different time zones is an inescapable reality. Read on for 10+ strategies on making your communication inclusive and seamless.

Follow this meeting protocol when working remotely

However, there are strategies that can be implemented to make working across time zones more manageable and successful. To start, companies should clearly and frequently communicate their purpose – employees want to know that they’re a part of an important and fulfilling mission. Additionally, during a time when the workforce is prone to burnout, an emphasis should be put on caring about each other’s mental wellbeing. And with 94% of employees reporting that they’d stay longer at a company if it invested in their careers, providing virtual mentoring opportunities can also be beneficial. Even if they reside in a different area, employees want to feel connected to their employer. The threat of a diminished company culture is real, and many remote workers fear they’ll be left out or overlooked for professional opportunities.

Hence, you should try to separate the place where you work from a relatively quiet place in your home. Everyone will have everything they need to get up and running as soon as they sign in for the day, regardless of what time it is. Tasks can be assigned, materials (such as spreadsheets, mockups, and slides) can be added, and deadlines can be defined.

Avoid micromanagement and set appropriate expectations.

I know personally, I sometimes like to get stuck in at various points in my day for focused work without too many distractions. Scheduled synchronous communication like planned video calls/syncups allow me to better mentally prepare. 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. Founded in 2011, Help Scout has been a fully remote company from day 1 and is powering 12,000+ teams in 140+ countries.

Managers should instead give their workers some leeway when it comes to setting work schedules or deadlines, as long as they deliver high-quality results. It’s nearly hard to arrange everyone to meet at the same time without inconveniencing someone if you don’t have team members working in overlapping time zones. One person will have to regularly get up too early or stay online too late. Here’s a rundown of some tools and apps that can help you manage time zone differences. Something we’re proud of in the marketing team at Employment Hero are our fortnightly meetings.