What Is Asynchronous Communication? Is It Suitable For Startups?
Everyone loves success stories. They are similar to oven-fresh bread; their smell travels fast, and everyone wants a piece of it. As a result, we are often tempted to investigate the stories of every successful startup—how they survived, their valuation, startup capital, sponsors, and other relevant information about them. These stories often form the bulk of our conversations with friends and colleagues.
Many people, however, are unable to relate to the struggles and challenges that lie behind these success stories. These startups have to deal with several challenges. Amongst all these challenges, the one that has a significant impact on the daily working environment is communication. Establishing linear and transparent communication among the team members takes a long time, but it becomes the foundation for growth if done the right way.
Therefore, if you are looking to fully grasp the concept of asynchronous communication and determine if it is suitable for your startup, you are at the right place. In this article, we will explore the topic of understanding asynchronous communication and whether it is ideal for startups.
What is asynchronous communication?
Asynchronous communication is the type of communication that can occur between two or more people without requiring the other party to be present when the communication takes place. In other words, asynchronous communication is done on a non-immediate basis. For instance, you can send emails at any time, but the recipient has the choice to reply to your email at their convenience. Once you get a reply, the conversation can become an email thread. This is not the case with synchronous communication platforms like the phone or video calls that require both parties to be present in real-time.
Is asynchronous communication suitable for startups?
Asynchronous communication is best suited for having deep conversations that would require the other party to think thoroughly before responding. But the question is whether it is suitable for startups.
Interestingly, asynchronous offers unique benefits that are essential for startups. This suggests that asynchronous communication could be a sure bet for startups. Some of the crucial benefits of asynchronous communication include the following:
1. It provides workers with the needed flexibility
Asynchronous communication offers many benefits. However, the most obvious one is that it gives workers more flexibility to respond at their most convenient time. Furthermore, unlike synchronous communication, asynchronous communication does not require the other party to be present in real-time at the time of the communication. This is especially helpful for startups, as it allows them to manage their time properly and increase productivity.
2. It stores communication details for future use
Information documentation is essential in startups. Asynchronous communication allows workers to save communication details for future reference. For example, you can easily refer to a past email sent by your employee or a client’s proposal letter, allowing you to create a running communication thread. This is one of the biggest benefits of asynchronous communication. On the contrary, synchronous communication occurs without documentation, except when someone takes notes or makes voice recordings.
3. Async communication has the potential to be more honest
Synchronous communication requires both parties to respond to questions or give their feedback in real-time. But, in asynchronous communication, there is enough time to allow either party to think deeply and develop a more honest and knowledgeable response to the subject matter. Many workers hate the idea of being put on the spot by synchronous communciation. So, asynchronous communication enables a more functional working environment thanks to the improved quality of feedback it promotes.
Conclusion
It is easy to see why asynchronous communication is best suited for startups. It is more convenient, effective, and gives room for high-quality feedback in the working environment. All these benefits of asynchronous communication are imperative for the success of startups.
