You have hired a couple of international hires with different time zones for your small business. However, managing them gets tricky due to their different time zones.
The good news is that managing distributed teams in different time zones is not an unconquerable problem.
There are some practices and tools that you can implement into your remote team management strategy.
And we are here to give you precisely what you need.
Read this blog for expert-recommended ways to manage teams in different time zones.
Common mistakes you can face working with a remote team in different time zones
Managing a distributed team is not an easy task. Primarily when you must ensure every team member is on the same page.
Don’t worry. You’ll make mistakes in the beginning. But ensure you avoid the common mistakes.
Here, we’ve listed 6 common mistakes to avoid with your remote team in different time zones:
- Limiting communication to digital-only
- Providing unclear instructions
- Not arranging meetings at convenient times
- Not providing opportunities for team building
- Not providing timely feedback
- Failing to establish accountability in teams
Expert tips for working with teams in different time zones
You must overcome time zone challenges if you want your remote team to collaborate effectively.
Here, we’ve listed 8 experts’ tips on managing teams in different time zones.
1. Schedule daily huddles
Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of Red Banyan, says:
“Communication is crucial to working successfully with a team in different time zones. Frequent communication among your employees keeps them connected.”
Encourage communication if you want to manage your team in different time zones. To encourage communication, you can schedule daily “huddles”. Ensure that every team member joins, regardless of their time difference.
You must think, ” How can daily huddles help you manage your team?”
Simple, through daily huddles, you can keep an update on your employee’s daily tasks, engage with them, and resolve their confusion with any lengthy delays.
You can benefit from daily huddles, too, and make your existing team members schedule one-on-one meetings with new ones. Through their head-to-head meetings, they can keep in touch with each other.
2. Make and share SOPs
Nathalie Lussier, CEO of AccessAlly, says, “Make different processes to ensure an effective work environment for every team member regarding their time zones.”
You must develop SOPs (Standard Operational Procedures) if you want an effective and smooth workflow. You can make your company’s SOP according to different time zones or departments.
Why make SOPs according to employees and their time zones? Why not one SOP for everyone?
When making and sharing SOPs, you define steps that help you standardise your product’s quality. SOPs also allow you to continue your company workflow smoothly and effectively.
Different SOPs will have login and meeting times instructions for each employee’s time zone.
How can your company leverage from making and sharing SOPs?
You can make and share SOPs that contain expectations from every employee in your company. And share SOPs in a documentation form through an online platform.
3. Have common goals
Anna Anisin, the founder of Data Science Salon, says:
“Open, clear communication and common goals are two things that keep your team sticky and hungry to achieve great things together.”
When you openly share your company’s goal with your team, you motivate them. They all have the same goal in their mind, and they’ll work towards the same goal.
How does working for common goals help your team?
A common goal can help you create a sense of meaning and purpose among your team members. Plus, common goals keep every team member on the same page.
You can keep your team on the same page by sharing your expectations and goals at monthly meetings.
You can also train your team to help them achieve daily tasks and goals.
4. Adjust your expectations
Bryce Welker, CEO at Crush the GRE Test, says:
“You have to change your expectations for productivity according to the remote work situation.”
When you have an in-house team, most employees don’t work daily. But when you have a team in different time zones working remotely, you have to prioritise productivity at some level.
Adjusting expectations for productivity can help you measure your employee’s performance. And when your employees are meeting your expectations, they’re more productive and satisfied at work.
How can you adjust your team’s productivity expectations in different time zones?
Simply communicate your expectations in person and on paper with your team members. After communicating, make a realistic timeline for each project.
And last, confirm if the expectations for productivity are clear or not.
5. Encourage team collaboration
Cooper Harris, CEO and founder of Klickly, says:
“Ensure your remote team members are accountable to one another and practice effective communication.”
Cooper’s expert tip means you can enable a steady messaging flow for remote team communication. When you have a consistent response from team members, you can avoid delays in completing projects.
You can utilise advanced communication tools for effective communication in your team in different time zones.
Right now, the best communication tool is Talk Magnet. You can use Talk Magnet as a shorthand communication system.
6. Give work flexibility
Ryan D Matzner, partner at Fueled, says:
“For success with managing and collaborating with a team in different time zones, give flexibility.”
Flexibility is an essential skill of leadership and management. When you give flexibility to your remote team, you build trust between your employees and yourself.
Flexibility in working hours and workload can boost your team’s creativity, loyalty, productivity, and satisfaction.
Assign weekly tasks and let your employees manage their working schedules. Also, you can list tasks in one Excel sheet and let your employees assign tasks to themselves.
7. Available at standard time
Chase Williams, Managing Partner at Market My Market, says:
“It’s important to set a time when all employees should be available for conversation and meetings.”
When working with a team in different time zones, you must set a standard time for everyone’s availability. And when every employee is available regularly, you can instantly share important information.
With every team member’s availability, you can clear confusion, take feedback, and share feedback.
Let’s say your team is from America’s East and West Coast. Standardise time from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
8. Use collaborative tools
Richard Fong, CEO of Bliss Drive, says, “For a team working across different time zones, the best piece of advice from me is to use the best collaboration tools.”
Large organisations with teams in different time zones work asynchronously. With a highly organised collaboration tool, you can save time running after your employees for updates.
Your email can take more time than you think. Using the best collaboration tools can help you save time and resources. The best collaboration tool can help you increase productivity and team morale, and team management is easy.
Wait, there’s more.
You can also use the best collaboration tool for your team in different time zones. Just ensure there are standards and procedures for using the collaboration, too.
Using a collaboration tool will keep every member on the same page regarding methods and expectations.
What are the different time zones, and how do you know your team member’s time zone
The Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, is the world’s standard for regulating clocks. So, if we had to pick one, it would be that one.
While discussing different time zones, you can use Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, as a standard time zone for your remote team.
You must wonder, “How can you know your remote team’s time zone?”
Well, we’re in an advanced era where everything is digital. You can use digital tools to help you know your team member’s time zone.
The most straightforward tool is Google. Google allows you to search the time zone of any city or country. You’ll get confused if you plan to search the time zone for the whole team.
And there’s Google Calendar that works as both a reminder and time zone management tool.
You can have your current time zone and set the time zone you work on. And you can later switch between time zones at your convenience.
Get ready to manage your team in different time zones
There you go. You know how to work with teams in different time zones and best time management practices.
These 8 tips will make remote team management easy and effective.
For a brief comparison, read our article on the best team communication app for enterprises or read our article on the best team communication app for SMEs.
By now, you know Talk Magnet is your remote team’s most suitable communication tool because Talk Magnet allows you to have instant 1:1 messaging with your team without hassle.
Schedule a free demo or sign up for free now.
