This podcast explores the benefits of asynchronous working, the value of written communication, and the challenges of collaborating remotely. It discusses selecting the right communication channels, documenting decisions, and managing information. The podcast also highlights the advantages of asynchronous collaboration, the role of writing in remote teams, and the trade-offs of asynchronous communication at project and organization levels.
Asynchronous collaboration enables deep focus and effective communication through writing, improving documentation practices and problem-solving.
Clarifying the process and reducing communication blast radius with clear stages and checklists can minimize chaos and interruptions, enhancing focused and effective communication within teams.
Deep dives
Benefits of Asynchronous Collaboration
Asynchronous collaboration offers multiple benefits in the post-pandemic era. It allows for deep focus and uninterrupted work, which is essential for technologists. It also enables distributed work across different geographies without disrupting personal lives. Additionally, asynchronous collaboration promotes effective communication through writing, as it helps build a knowledge base, aids in onboarding, and facilitates better decision records. Even in the same location, writing can be a valuable tool for structuring problems and finding solutions. By using writing tools and archiving appropriate information, teams can improve their documentation practices as well.
Clarifying the Process and Reducing Communication Blast Radius
Clarifying the process helps teams strike a balance between a tech bureaucracy and a laissez-faire approach. By using a Kanban board and checklists, teams can define clear stages and steps for workflow, minimizing chaos and interruptions. Reducing the blast radius of communication involves being mindful of who needs to be involved in discussions and pings. This helps minimize noise and notifications, allowing for more focused and effective communication.
Leadership's Role in Asynchronous Communication
Leaders play an important role in facilitating successful asynchronous communication within teams. They need to guide teams in finding effective ways to communicate and work asynchronously. This includes helping teams understand the timing and priorities of communication, adapting to different communication channels, and fostering a safe and inclusive environment. Effective leadership also involves constantly evaluating the success of asynchronous practices and making necessary adjustments.
Considerations and Tips for Asynchronous Collaboration
Transitioning to asynchronous collaboration requires careful consideration and evaluation. Teams should assess the benefits and value of this approach to ensure it aligns with their goals. It's crucial to have buy-in from both the team and the business, as well as a willingness to embrace change and a realistic understanding of the initial productivity dip. Implementation should proceed methodically, considering each practice and adapting it to an asynchronous context where possible. Through a thoughtful and deliberate approach, teams can reap the rewards of asynchronous collaboration while still acknowledging the occasional need for synchronous communication.
Thanks to the pandemic, asynchronous working is, today, fairly common. However, it's often easily confused with simply working remotely — and while there are certainly neat synergies between the two, asynchronous working isn't just a description of your working arrangement: it's a set of intentional practices and artifacts that allow people to work together without having to physically be together.
On this episode of ther Technology Podcast, Thoughtworkers Sumeet Gayathri Moghe — author of TheAsync-First Playbook — and Maya Ormaza join hosts Neal Ford and Ken Mugrage to offer their perspectives on asynchronous working. Taking in everything from the value of written communication, work that demands synchronicity and the importance of leadership to async working, listen to gain a fresh perspective on the way we work together in 2024.