Have you tried booking a meeting with more than two people to determine that the first available time is in a month?
Do you happen to live in Asia and need to work with America with a 12-hour time difference?
Those are common scenarios in today’s global working environment. As a result, meeting people has become increasingly problematic. Yet it is more crucial than ever to keep colleagues informed and know what is happening around you.
What is Asynchronous Communication
In telecommunications, asynchronous communication is the transmission of data without a steady stream or timeline.
Applied to business, asynchronous communication is not real-time (on the phone, in person, or during a live video conferencing meeting) communication.
Why Is Asynchronous Communication an Advantage
While it may sound a little disconnected from a human-centered mentality, the truth is that it can be a potent tool for saving a tremendous amount of time and for generative ideas and productivity.
Although I recognize the importance of personal connections and meeting people in person, I do not necessarily support the idea of having too many meetings besides certain activities like working sessions or presentations.
Additionally, the cost of having ten managers in the same room to give them an update could be pretty high.
Risks of Asynchronous Communication
The most considerable risk of implementing async comms is staying out of sync. Not having the proper feedback and information loops could make you run in silos.
One of the keys to successful synchronous communication is technology and automation. Automations allow you to do things like sending a delayed email, smart chats, tagging users on your docs, video, or audio messages.
Summary
You are reading this post I wrote one Sunday afternoon lying on my couch but scheduled on a Thursday afternoon when (perhaps) you have more time to read. Isn’t that a perfect use of my and your time?
Asynchronous communication gives you back time. And in an era where companies are trying to de-complex organizations and free time for employees to do what matters, communicating with others when not being in the same room or call is a competitive advantage.
