Remote work has been around for a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it a standard practice for many companies. Before the pandemic, only 17% of U.S. employees worked from home five or more days a week. During the pandemic, this number jumped to 44%.
As remote work becomes the new normal, finding productive ways to work is essential. This includes having a good workstation and effective team communication. One effective communication method for remote teams is asynchronous communication.
So, what is asynchronous communication, and how can it benefit remote teams? This infographic will explain asynchronous communication, its advantages and disadvantages, and how to implement it successfully in your organization.
What Is Asynchronous Communication?
Asynchronous communication happens when two or more individuals communicate without being present in real-time. In other words, it’s sending a message without the immediate need for a response. This type of communication allows employees and employers to set their schedules and answer inquiries without much dependence on the availability of others.
Employing asynchronous communication helps employees stay connected with company members and ensures efficient operation regardless of time zone, location, and other factors.
Benefits of Asynchronous Communication
Now that we’ve established what asynchronous communication is, let’s discuss the various benefits of using this form of communication.
1. More Thoughtful Communication
In work conversations, workers often feel obligated to come up with an immediate response, which may not be relevant or conscientious. With asynchronous communication, team members have more time to digest new information, formulate an answer, and consider crucial decisions that lead to more strategic conclusions.
Additionally, asynchronous communication decreases distractions. Without an immediate need for a response, workers can reply when their set schedules allow it, improving concentration and productivity.
2. Better Productivity
Asynchronous communication grants remote teams more flexibility to prioritize important work. There will be instances when employees feel obligated to respond to every message, which could be detrimental in the long run.
Constantly taking time off your day to respond to a considerable volume of requests and questions prevents you from conducting deep and meaningful work. This communication method enables you to deal with these tasks at your own time and pace, putting more critical and urgent work at the top of your to-do list.
3. Documentation for Transparency
Documentation, whether through writing or pre-recorded videos, gives your team a clear vision and timeframe of their duties. With asynchronous communication, all traces of internal exchanges and relays get automatically documented. This could be beneficial as the logged data could be easily referenced or shared for others to review.
4. More Honest Communication
Asynchronous communication improves honesty among team members because it allows them to give better-quality feedback. Some employees have no problem being true when confronted in a one-on-one setting. However, others may find it difficult to answer immediately. This type of communication allows your employees to voice their concerns more accurately when they’re most comfortable, as conversations and evaluations are not made in real-time.
Decreased Burnout Chances
Constantly staying on top of things can be exhausting. Asynchronous communication reduces stress by letting your team work at their own pace. Traditional communication methods often keep you tied to your desk to immediately handle work issues. Being able to step away and take breaks can improve employees' physical and mental health, significantly lowering the risk of burnout.
Drawbacks of Asynchronous Communication
While asynchronous communication has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks. If you want to make it a part of your day-to-day business, keep these in mind:
1. Inconsistent Immediacy
A major drawback of asynchronous communication is that it can't handle urgent situations since business isn't done in real-time. It's important to plan for immediate needs, which will require synchronous communication to solve the urgent problem.
2. Unclear Tone of Voice
Unlike synchronous communication, which feels more natural and human thanks to body language and tone of voice, asynchronous communication can lack the emotional connection needed to make people feel connected. This can lead to misunderstandings and a sense of disconnection, affecting your team's efficiency and productivity.
3. Decreased Spontaneity
Synchronous communication lets employees brainstorm and exchange ideas in real-time. While taking time to reflect can be helpful, asynchronous communication lacks the quick, spontaneous interactions needed for effective collaboration and idea generation.
4. Lack of Community
Asynchronous communication can make remote teams feel isolated since it doesn't involve in-person interactions. While it allows for independent work, it reduces direct interpersonal interactions.
Strong connections are crucial for a cohesive team. Although bonds can form through asynchronous communication, it can be challenging.
5. Micromanagement
Trust among teammates is crucial for a successful team. But when instructions can't be given personally, some leaders might micromanage. This can strain relationships if done too often, making employees feel alienated by constant scrutiny.
How to Successfully Practice Asynchronous Communication
Learning the various pros and cons of asynchronous communication is a start to implementing this strategy. Let's discuss the best practices for this technique to effectively introduce and practice this form of communication into your team's daily routine.
1. Set rules that work for everyone.
If your business utilizes internal communications, you will likely have defined work channels in place. Have a clear strategy on what should be communicated in each designated space, who needs to be included, and what channels are for private and public use.
2. Integrate the right tools.
As established, asynchronous communication doesn’t require employees to work simultaneously. However, it’s imperative to integrate the right tools to ensure that every individual can work in sync despite not working with each other in real-time.
Tools like time-tracking apps, communication platforms with multiple features, knowledge management tools, and task management software can help an asynchronous team work in harmony despite the circumstances.
3. Avoid information overload.
In a fast-paced business world, important information can get lost in the shuffle of heavy workloads. So, it's crucial to ensure the content being shared is relevant to prevent information overload. One effective method is to divide work based on criteria like department, location, language, and interest. This way, each employee receives the right information at the right time without undermining the benefits of asynchronous communication.
4. Provide easy methods for employee feedback.
By conducting intuitive employee surveys and collecting feedback, you can analyze and make useful suggestions to improve your communication setup.
5. Make content fun and easier to understand.
As work gets busier, keeping employees engaged can be tough. But making content fun and easy to understand can make the routine more interesting. Consider using webinars or podcasts to grab your employees' attention, especially for important company updates.
6. Understand your workforce.
Understanding your workers' responsibilities helps you see what improvements are needed for a successful asynchronous setup. Consider their strengths, weaknesses, and how they work remotely, and determine how to help them be more effective.
7. Advocate patience.
The corporate world often wants immediate results, but being patient can be more beneficial. With asynchronous communication, you can connect with employees better by letting them communicate in their own time, except for urgent tasks.
8. Build trust.
Trust is important in all businesses, especially in environments with little personal contact, like asynchronous communication. If supervisors and workers don't trust each other, this method won't work.
Stay in Sync With Asynchronous Communication
The COVID-19 pandemic brought changes to personal and work lives. While some were unsure about working from home, methods like asynchronous communication helped teams work efficiently. This approach has benefits for businesses with full-time remote employees. But there are drawbacks and things to learn. Remember these points to use asynchronous communication effectively.
If you need a call center outsourcing in the Philippines for your asynchronous team, consider Select VoiceCom. We offer top-notch customer service for your outsource back-office needs. Contact us today to learn more!
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