The Future Of Work: Asynchronous Communication
Companies no longer need all their employees in one physical place to operate. Technology has changed how we work. Remote work is now more popular than ever since people can effortlessly work across different time zones.
Having teams in different time zones does come without its challenges. When workers are in different time zones, it becomes harder to schedule meetings. This is where asynchronous communication comes in.
Asynchronous communication will help your remote teams work more efficiently and avoid wasting their productive time in many unnecessary meetings.
What Is Asynchronous Communication?
The asynchronous definition is the exchange of information between two or more parties without immediately responding.
For example:” I write you an email about a particular task. I will then send you the email. You read and consume the email once you open it at your time. You implement what is on the email at your own time.”
This frees up the time of both parties for the need to be “synced up.” With asynchronous communication, there is no pressure to respond immediately.
Examples of asynchronous communication
- Text messaging
- Direct mail or letter
- Video recording (via Loom, CloudApp, e.t.c)
- Asynchronous meeting
- Notes and action items in a shared stream
What Is Synchronous Communication?
Synchronous communication involves two or more people exchanging information in real-time. This is most common in many workplaces where people expect real-time responses. The downside with this communication approach is that it is not very effective.
It might sound like it’s the best way to communicate since you are on top of your game and addressing issues immediately. However, studies show that 71% of employees report interruptions with their productivity.
Think about it;” you are working on a task with a tight deadline, then a colleague walks into your office and wants to discuss an upcoming event. So you stop what you are doing to give attention to their question rather than finishing the task that immediately due thus wasting time.”
Why The Asynchronous Communication Is the Future of Work?
The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted workplace habits, and asynchronous communication has become the norm. This way, employees can generate their work schedules and manage their time most efficiently.
Most remote workplaces still use traditional synchronous techniques such as live chats, Google Meet and Zoom. However, most workplaces are looking for other ways of communication that guarantee flexibility and freedom in the way they work.
Here are some of the benefits that come with asynchronous communication:
- Saves on time– Asynchronous communication eliminates the many useless meetings people have at the workplace. Most workers spend most of their time in meetings they don’t need to be in, which affects their productivity.
- Focus without interruption– You get to focus on your work without constant interruption.
- You get to decide when to check your messages and respond to them.
- You have a record of the communication if you need to refer to something while completing a task. This is much different from synchronous communication, where you need to keep taking notes which you can refer to when completing a task.
- With asynchronous communication, you do not have to be at the same place and at the same time to communicate effectively.
- You have the chance to think about your response before you respond carefully. In most cases, immediate responses are not the best, especially at the workplace.
Asynchronous communication is the future of work because it makes communication more efficient and agile.
One major downside of asynchronous communication is the lack of sense of immediacy most team leaders look for. This is because the communication isn’t in real-time. There is a lag in messages and can leave the other party hanging while waiting for a response.
How Can You Use Asynchronous Communication in Your Team?
Here are some of the ways you can implement asynchronous communication at your workplace:
- When getting the daily meeting update
- When you want to focus on work without any disruption
- When your teams are no different time zones
- When there is a need of keeping a record of your teams’ communication
- Benefits of asynchronous communication
Best Practices for Asynchronous Communication
Receiving constant notifications can make you feel like you need to respond to messages in real-time, which would make it synchronous communication. This might even consume too much of your time.
Here are some tips to remember to employ the best practices of asynchronous communication:
- Provide enough information
You need to think about all the questions your colleagues might have on the task and provide detailed information. This way, you can avoid many follow-up questions.
- Set a deadline
Ensure you let your team members know when you expect a response.
- Offer helpful resources
Send videos, links, articles, and other resources that you believe will help your team members deliver excellent work.
- Manage your notifications
It would be best to let your colleagues know when you are not online or not working. Ensure you let people know when you are simply available for other tasks.
Conclusion
Today more companies are jumping on the asynchronous communication bandwagon. When your workers have the freedom to respond to questions on their schedule, they get to focus on other tasks. This helps improve their overall productivity and performance.
