How To Work Effectively Across Time Zones

While degree-based hiring has been the traditional approach, the latest trend in IT recruitment is… Certain countries refrain from using a given scheme with its time standard unchanged. For example, Iceland, Russia, Turkey, China, Japan, and India don’t follow such trends. This article will explore an alternative to the 9-5 schedule, namely, the DuPont shift schedule. We will highlight how it works, its pros and cons, and ways to implement it.

Using a meeting productivity tool like Fellow to share and collaborate on meeting agendas, notes and action items. Eastern Standard Time (EST) covers the states in the eastern part of North America and runs from Maine to Florida, while working remotely in a different time zone Central Standard Time (CST) includes Texas up to Montana. Mountain Standard Time (MST) spans Utah’s Rocky Mountains all the way over to Arizona, and Pacific Standard Time (PST) includes California and Nevada to Washington State.

How to Work Across Multiple Time Zones Efficiently as a Remote Team

Also, you can set definite deadlines for every task so everybody knows the timeframe within which they must finish their part. Managing teams across different time zones don’t have to be difficult, even though it may look frightening and complicated. Virtual teams have increased in popularity in the past few years because of their capability to offer variety, specialization, and better production. Not only do you have more distributed access between teams, but you also benefit from the diversity of different voices. Teams can help enable distributed employees by providing a discretionary budget for tech like noise-canceling headphones, microphones, high-quality laptops with cameras, and high-speed Internet access.

• Having teams across time zones is the greatest investment any company could venture into.
• Strive to find a time that works for everyone, or rotate meeting times to ensure that all team members have an opportunity to participate.
• For one, organizations should consider setting and respecting their team’s time zone boundaries.
• Consider establishing a rule that unless everyone in your team can be together in the same room, every meeting should be held through video calls to ensure fairness and clarity.

In industries like IT, marketing, sales, and customer service, working across time zones is more common. The benefits include access to a global talent pool, increased innovation and profitability, and uninterrupted workflow. However, challenges such as inconsistent collaboration, narrow meeting windows, and limited social connection need to be addressed. Organizations should prioritize effective communication, embrace asynchronous collaboration, and consider setting one official time zone. For asynchronous collaboration to work, teams need clear processes and guidelines on hand at all times to get a clear direction and understanding of priorities, boundaries, and goals. With the limited opportunities for verbal communication and even virtual meetings across time zones, distributed teams need to rely on written and video records to obtain all the information.

Con: Meetings might be late, or early

Company goals should be referenced in a shared mission statement, an accessible company or team handbook, and a yearly roadmap. These agreed-upon goals remind team members they are contributing with others for an outcome and group purpose that benefits everyone together, even when separated. Developing a shared vision allows for a stronger foundation and creates a more positive work atmosphere, both of which are essential for success. Overall, being in different time zones leads to misalignment and challenges in communication, collaboration, and teamwork.

Take it a step further and have everyone share a local food or drink that you might not find in other places. It’s always fun to learn something new and it’s a great way to bring people a little closer together even when they are physically far apart. It’s important to completely prepare for meetings, especially when people are dialing in and joining the video conference from all over the world. It is the number choice for tracking projects and ensuring timely diversity. With the advancement in technology, you can communicate with your team members regardless of whether they are in the world.

How to work effectively across time zones.

Our virtual leadership training builds the skills you need to lead effective and inclusive digital-first teams. Leverage opportunities to strengthen team culture by using the connection rituals in our Hybrid Team Toolkit today. To help keep everyone on the same page and productivity where it needs to be, go over the items on this checklist. If something about your remote work process doesn’t meet the topics on the list, take steps to improve them. This diversity can spark new ideas and inspire creativity as team members bring different approaches to problem-solving and decision-making.