Asynchronous work across multiple time zones has become the norm for many companies. In fact, 42 percent of employees believe asynchronous schedules are the future work, according to one survey from Sony. When companies employ workers across the globe and make use of flexible work hours, they are able to have more diverse talent with wider skill sets and unique points of view.
But these benefits don’t mean it’s always easy to pull off. Despite its popularity, 58 percent of employees believe that their employer isn’t prepared for having an asynchronous workforce.
Luckily there are employers out there that prioritize technology and culture that support asynchronous communication. Companies like BombBomb employ mindful tools and practices to ensure that work runs smoothly for all employees, no matter what time zone they’re in.
BombBomb is a software company specializing in video communication tools for sales and business professionals.
How has BombBomb adopted asynchronous work?
I joined BombBomb after the company had already made great strides in working remotely. It helps that the core company product is built to support asynchronous communication. Being able to record a screen share video in the BombBomb recorder and quickly paste a link in Slack has been a great way to introduce myself to the team, cut down on email writing, share notes with QA and engineers during testing and has allowed for great flexibility.
In the product and engineering teams, we use standard tools like Slack, Zoom, Gmail and Google Suite to collaborate. One helpful practice is setting core meeting hours. We still have stand-ups live most days and try to keep meetings between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to be mindful of different time zones.
Another point to remember is that sending messages outside a coworker's hours can be disruptive. Since I'm working later in the day on Pacific Time, I may need to message someone on Eastern Time. I try to put a note in the message that it's not urgent so they don't feel pressured to extend their work day needlessly.
What wins have you seen as a result of adopting asynchronous work?
Working asynchronously has allowed us to work with and retain great team members. Since the pandemic pushed BombBomb into a remote-first setting, I joined the team working from Pacific Time, which has been necessary for my family’s schedule. Others who started working in Colorado were able to move closer to their families in the Midwest and Northeast.
This structure also has helped trust and flexibility in our team to get the work done. We check in on Zoom at designated times every day, where the team will be online and on camera to share progress, troubleshoot and stay personally connected.
This allows us to be flexible, and there are many of us who are more effective working a flexible schedule. For example, if my dog needs a walk between meetings, he’s happy and I come back clear-headed and refreshed to dive into the next task.
What pain points are there when adopting asynchronous work?
Meeting fatigue can be a real drain on a team. Being on camera or remembering to unmute yourself to get a word in is tough. One way we combat the overwhelming number of meetings or video calls is by trying to book a five-minute gap at the end of a meeting. This lets you get a bit of a break from the screen.
Alternatively, I suggest finding ways to collaborate on or debate a topic. Some ways to do this might include creating a Slack thread with a video kicking off your thoughts or opening the floor for debate. Doing this outside of a strict meeting time also gives them a moment to consider the topic. They can chime in with a carefully thought-out text response or send you a video response to explain their ideas better or seek clarity.
I love open chat threads because you can get some great feedback and buy-in from quieter teammates who might not have been as comfortable debating or going against consensus in a live meeting. And that’s where you uncover great ideas — and share some great memes to celebrate the process.
