Don't interrupt

It's becoming increasingly common for teams to be distributed across different locations and time zones. I've had the opportunity to work with both co-located and asynchronous teams. And while there are pros and cons to both approaches, I've found that working asynchronously can offer some unique benefits and opportunities that are not possible with a co-located team.

One of the main benefits of working asynchronously is that it allows team members to work on their schedules. This can be especially helpful for teams that have members in different time zones, as it allows everyone to work at the times that are most convenient for them. This can help to improve work-life balance and reduce burnout, leading to a more engaged and productive team.

Another benefit of working asynchronously is that it allows team members to focus on tasks without distractions. When team members are working at different times, they are less likely to be interrupted by meetings or other distractions. This can help to improve focus and concentration, leading to better quality work.

Team members are trusted to do their best work without constant supervision or micromanagement. This can help to create a culture where team members are held accountable for their work and are expected to meet the qualitative standards of the team. All this results in a more productive and efficient team, and ultimately, a better outcome for the project.

I'm currently working with a team distributed across multiple time zones. This present some challenges, such as coordinating meetings and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. To overcome this, it is important to establish clear communication channels and protocols, such as regular team meetings and update sessions, to ensure that everyone is aware of the progress being made and any potential obstacles that need to be addressed.

In the long run, working asynchronously can help to improve communication and collaboration. By using tools such as asynchronous communication platforms and online project management tools, teams can share updates, discuss ideas, and collaborate on projects. This can lead to more pondered ideas, without the rush coming from real-time communication

In contrast, I've also worked on co-located teams where everyone was in the same office. While this made it easier to communicate and collaborate in real-time, it also meant that team members were tied to a specific location and schedule. This could lead to frustration and reduced productivity, as team members were not able to work in the conditions that were most convenient for them or in an environment where constant stimulations limits the focus and the possibility to do deep work.

Working asynchronously offers some unique benefits and opportunities that, as a sector, we have not fully grasped since it will take time to get used to this way of seeing work.