Tag: remotely

5 Tips for Working Remotely in Different Time Zones

As a remote worker, you get various opportunities to work with clients and companies from around the world and even though working as a remote worker has many benefits, there are certain problems that most remote workers struggle with and the time zone difference is one of those. Working from one side of the world with clients from the other side can be difficult because of the time zone difference, the communication barriers, the scheduling conflicts, and maintaining a work-life balance.

It can be difficult to work remotely in different time zones but worry not, as we have got you covered. Let’s discuss some tips that can make it easier for you to work remotely in different time zones.

Plan Everything Ahead

The first tip to work successfully as a remote worker is to plan ahead every day. Whether you are working with a global team or client, one thing that you will have to do is familiarize yourself with the local time of that area and the time zone difference. Before you even schedule a meeting or set a deadline, consider time zone differences between you and your client, and try to find a suitable time that will work for everyone.

You can use various tools and apps that can help you sort out the time zone differences easily so that you can plan your day accordingly. The importance of planning everything ahead is that it can make things easier for you as well as your clients and it won’t matter if your client is living in Minneapolis, MN, or Los Angeles, CA because you will be well-informed and well-prepared for everything.

Communicate Clearly and Set Clear Expectations

As mentioned earlier, working remotely comes with its fair share of challenges and communication barriers are one of them. Clear communication is very important for remote workers because miscommunication or lack of communication can make things go bad. Therefore, communicate properly with your client or team and inform them about your work hours, response times, and availability.

During this, make sure that you are transparent about everything and communicate about time zone differences that exist. Set clear expectations for each task and project and define your goals, roles, responsibilities, and deadlines clearly in advance.

Leverage Technology

Technology is your best friend when it comes to working remotely because there are various tools that you can use to stay connected, organized, and updated. Not only are there team communication tools available but there are also cloud-based platforms available that make it easier to manage documents on the go.

Plus, certain other tools can make it easier for you to schedule meetings, check prayer times, and perform face-to-face communication. Make sure that you leverage technology as a remote worker and some of the tools that you can use as a remote worker include Microsoft Teams, Notion, Google Drive, OneDrive, Calendly, and Zoom. 

Learn to Compromise and Be Flexible

Working across various time zones is not easy because you will have to adjust your schedule every once and then until you strike a perfect balance. Remote working with global clients and teams requires you to compromise and be flexible because there may be times when you will have to adjust your schedule to accommodate a deadline or meeting. Therefore, keep an open mind about all of this and be highly flexible when it comes to your schedule.

If you are working with remote colleagues, be understanding and compromising. Maintain a positive attitude and open lines of communication so that you can work together in a positive environment.

Use Asynchronous Communication

While working remotely, there may be times when you communicate with your team members or clients and don’t get an immediate response because of time zone differences or schedule differences. In such cases, you should use asynchronous communication tools like messenger apps, email, and project-building apps. With these apps, you can leave a message to your client or colleague and give them the flexibility to respond when it is convenient for them.

The benefit of asynchronous communication is that you can send a message or email without expecting an immediate response, which alleviates pressure and helps to create a more relaxed work environment.

41% of tech leaders think their company will work 100% remotely in the future

Storm Technology, the business technology consultancy, today announces the findings of a new survey which reveals that 41% of IT leaders think their company will become 100% remote in the future.

The survey – conducted by Tech Central and involving more than 100 IT decision-makers from larger enterprises and businesses across Ireland – found that over two thirds (67%) think their organisation is currently equipped to support such a move.

Some 81% of respondents think the way their company is currently working is effective and the same proportion think their IT department is adequately supporting remote/hybrid working for their organisation.

However, 65% don’t think their company is using remote/hybrid working solutions to their full potential and over half (58%) don’t think virtual communications are an adequate replacement for human interaction.

In terms of other challenges stemming from remote/hybrid working, IT leaders see supporting company culture as the biggest, cited by 42%. Other leading challenges include providing secure access to company systems and information (39%), training staff to use existing technologies to the fullest (39%), enabling collaboration across locations (35%), and managing remote devices (31%).

As for the long-term issues arising from this way of working, 46% said spending too much time in meetings. Meanwhile, 39% cited working longer hours and some 32% said having to spend time on wellness to prevent burnout. Thirty per cent of IT leaders also see not staying ahead with the latest tools to do the job as a long-term problem of remote/hybrid working.

While the research found that its impact was largely positive across the areas of staff wellbeing (80%), employee experience (77%) and business growth (69%), this was less so when it came to talent and culture. Just over half (54%) felt the impact of remote/hybrid working was positive on attracting and retaining talent, while only 35% believed it has had a positive impact on company culture.

Arguably, this may stem from challenges relating to collaboration across locations. The leading barriers to collaboration were revealed as a lack of digital skills (48%), people having the time to collaborate (45%), and a lack of face-to-face meetings (44%).

Furthermore, a quarter (25%) of IT leaders cited securing communication platforms as an obstacle to collaboration and almost a fifth (17%) identified the impaired ability to share information as a barrier to same.

Speaking about the findings, Mike Lillis, Chief Commercial Officer at Storm Technology, said: “Of course the workplace of today is vastly different to what we had five years ago, and our research suggests that it will continue to evolve – perhaps even becoming fully remote for some organisations.

“Yet, the core of what makes a successful organisation is the same – enabled, engaged and empowered people. If companies are to make remote and hybrid working a success, they need both the technology and the strategy in place. If people lack the means and knowledge to collaborate, they cannot work effectively.

“In turn, this jeopardises not just service delivery and business but also company culture and employee wellbeing as people end up working harder and longer. Business leaders must therefore implement the technologies and provide the training required to create a productive, proactive, and positive workplace. Only then can they make a real impact for their people and their organisations as a whole.”

To find out more about this research, check out Storm Technology’s Modern Workplace Report 2023.