This article explores the concept of asynchronous work, outlining its benefits for both employees and employers, such as increased autonomy, efficiency, and inclusivity, and the significance of thorough documentation and mindful communication. It also discusses the challenges of async communication and offers practical advice for implementing async workflows.
Main Points
Popularity of Asynchronous Work
Asynchronous work is growing because it enables greater flexibility, inclusivity, and productivity.
Autonomy in Asynchronous Work
The autonomy granted by asynchronous work environments leads to loyalty, retention, and improved work quality.
Importance of Documentation and Communication
Implementing a culture of documentation and clear, inclusive communication is essential for successful asynchronous work.
Insights
Asynchronous work significantly benefits both employees and employers.
Asynchronous work is growing in popularity because it significantly benefits both employees and employers.
Asynchronous communication prioritizes mental health.
An unsung benefit to working asynchronously is a reduction of tension. When your entire company operates with an understanding that any team member could be offline at any time, for any reason, there is no expectation that one will reply instantly to an inquiry. This creates an environment where your mental health is prioritized, allowing team members to set boundaries and freeing them from a perpetual assault of notifications and judgment.
Async communication requires thorough documentation.
No matter how intentional you are in communication, there’s always something that will be left out, misunderstood, or needed to move forward. If someone has a follow-up question, they may need to wait hours or days for a response. Alternatively, they can look up the answer in the company handbook.