Asynchronous work practices also make it easier to let workers focus on their primary responsibilities. Every project requires some specific time to complete. It’s easy to allow distractions to derail your work. We live in a world that is constantly competing for our attention. Every time we switch tasks, we lose time—time that could otherwise have been spent focusing on our work. By enabling asynchronous work, we can let people devote their full attention to a task and be more productive.
Going Asynchronous
Given these advantages, I would highly recommend asynchronous work practices to anyone who wants to improve their work. Implementing asynchronous work practices on your digital teams will improve your products, your processes, your teams, and your work. However, there are some very good reasons not to go all-in on asynchronous work all at once. If you’re not used to asynchronous work practices, it can be difficult to start. You’ll have to change the way you manage your teams and how you work. In contrast, if you’re already using asynchronous work practices, introducing them to your teams will be easier. But you may still encounter some challenges, especially if you’re already managing people who work from different time zones.
Getting Started
Set up a virtual office
No matter how far apart you are, your employees can still work together as a team. They don’t have to meet in a coffee shop or the office. Instead, you should consider setting up a virtual office. This is a place where team members can go to find documents and files they need to complete their work. They should have access to the location from anywhere, so they can work on their computer or phone while they’re in the train on the way to work.
Allow asynchronous communication
You want to allow people to chat with each other, but you also want to avoid wasting time waiting for one person to respond. Instead, try using asynchronous communication platforms, like Basecamp, Slack, or Zendesk. These platforms can help you eliminate the need for real-time chat. Instead, people can exchange messages and documents via email, messages, or even a helpdesk.
Reduce meetings
Meetings can be incredibly useful in many situations, but you should be careful if you work with remote employees. You may think you have to meet in person, but you don’t. Video conferencing is a great way to have meetings without having to gather everyone in the same physical place. You can still have face-to-face meetings, but you should limit them to the employees who really need to be there.
Have fewer written rules
Employees need to have many rules or they will be confused about their responsibilities. However, if you are working with remote workers, you don’t necessarily need to have as many written rules. Instead, you can use tools to ensure employees understand the company’s goals. They should understand what they are expected to do and how they can do it.
Use technology
Technology should be the backbone of your virtual office. You can use video conferencing, virtual chatrooms, and other electronic tools to help you communicate with remote workers. The point is to make sure everyone in the organization is aware of what everyone else is working on.
Have a workflow
A workflow is a set of steps that you and your team follow to complete a task. To ensure that you don’t have bad remote workers, you need to have a workflow. This means you need to have a process that everyone follows, from start to finish. You don’t need to spend hours creating the perfect workflow, but you do need to document the tasks and steps that are required to complete each project. Then, make sure everyone follows the same process.
Create a brand
When you don’t work in the same office, it’s important to create a brand. This is a foundation that you can build upon for your organization. You don’t need to use a unique logo or a unique set of colors. However, you do need to communicate who you are and what your values are. This will help people know what they should expect from you.
Have a culture
You need a culture if you want to make sure your organization succeeds. You can build a culture through informal interactions. For example, you can hold an annual party to bring employees together and show them that you care. You can also use informal meetings and online chats to help build a culture.
Explain your vision
You need to be able to explain your vision to virtual employees when they aren’t in the office. You need to make sure they know why they should push themselves to do more. You can use a culture deck to show them your company’s values and mission. This will help employees know what they are striving to achieve.