When you work across different countries, time zones, and languages, you shouldn’t expect it to be easy or straightforward. But the challenges are worth it because international collaboration brings significant benefits. These include access to top talent, greater diversity, new perspectives, and a potential boost to key success measures. Here are some tips for effective global team coordination.
When you have employees working across multiple countries and time zones, some will be working at moments when others are not. Communicate asynchronously – that is, without direct contact – using email, video messages, and other collaborative online tools.
Prioritize “overlap time.” When you are coordinating with global teams, there may only be one or two hours of “overlap” when most team members are on the job. This is the best time to schedule meetings or video chats. If you have questions or issues to discuss, it’s the perfect opportunity to connect in real-time.
If you work in one country but have colleagues or clients in another, consider working split shifts. This strategy can maximize your real-time interactions with people in multiple time zones. Perhaps part of your workday could be in the early morning or late at night for better coordination across time zones. And maybe the other part could be around midday to cater to people in your own time zone. Such a flexible approach makes you more readily available to both your international and local colleagues. So, consider replacing a traditional unified schedule with a workday that is split into two shifts.
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