{"id":2079,"date":"2021-04-29T12:21:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T12:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.useme.com\/en\/blog\/?p=2079"},"modified":"2022-08-17T12:58:25","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:58:25","slug":"10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips For Working With The Remote Team In Different Time Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Advantages_of_working_in_the_different_time_zone\" >Advantages of working in the different time zone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Set_the_specific_deadline\" >Set the specific deadline<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Have_a_regular_meeting_time\" >Have a regular meeting time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Choose_the_right_communication_tool\" >Choose the right communication tool<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Allow_accesses_to_the_necessary_database_and_tools\" >Allow accesses to the necessary database and tools<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Have_a_clear_workflow\" >Have a clear workflow<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Send_the_critical_email_at_the_working_hour\" >Send the critical email at the working hour<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Check_the_daylight_saving_time_and_the_form_of_date\" >Check the daylight saving time and the form of date<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Have_a_flexible_schedule\" >Have a flexible schedule<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Ask_the_urgent_question_early\" >Ask the urgent question early<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-tips-for-working-with-the-remote-team-in-different-time-zones,248\/#Use_automation_tools_to_work_more_effectively\" >Use automation tools to work more effectively<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>The time difference is more than complicated mathematics calculation. When you finish the day, another colleague just starts the day. If you want to ask a question, you cannot just walk toward their desk because they are somewhere across the globe. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revolut.com\/en-PL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Revolut<\/a> launches a new remote work policy that allows the employee to work overseas for up to 60 days. Time difference benefits both the employer and the customer. Here are 10 tips for working with the remote international team in <strong>different time zones.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advantages_of_working_in_the_different_time_zone\"><\/span>Advantages of working in the different time zone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With a well-distributed team, the remote worker can run the whole operation even across <strong>multiple time zones<\/strong>, for example, non-stop customer support. In fact, the time difference solved my problem once. Just <strong>24<\/strong> hours before my first family overseas trip, I noticed a <strong>huge<\/strong> mistake on the airplane ticket. Usually, this mistake could be correct once I logged into the system. But the system closed automatically before departure. The local office finished work, and no one answered the phone call. Luckily, the New York office just started working. They fixed the mistake and saved my family trip.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Set_the_specific_deadline\"><\/span>Set the specific deadline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since most of your colleagues are in different locations. Setting a specific deadline is crucial. Clearly state the deadline, especially for the important project. For example, add on the <strong>local time<\/strong> when announcing the project. You can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeanddate.com\/worldclock\/converter.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">time difference calculator<\/a> to check the local time. Some tools like Google calendar and slack even automatically adjust the time according to the location.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_a_regular_meeting_time\"><\/span>Have a regular meeting time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Do you feel lonely when everyone working remotely? That\u2019s totally normal as you probably do not talk to anyone for the whole day long. Set a <strong>catch-up<\/strong> hour when the time overlap. Or even have a regular video call with your colleagues, such as a <strong>remote coffee break<\/strong>, or even have <strong>a team bonding game online.<\/strong> There are many remote team bonding games like solving riddle, puzzle, and finding the mystery.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choose_the_right_communication_tool\"><\/span>Choose the right communication tool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using the right communication tool is essential as everyone works remotely. Nowadays, everyone has several ways to connect with others. Some software may load slowly when the channel has too many messages. The vital message can be <strong>hidden<\/strong> somewhere. You can set <strong>1 vital channel<\/strong>, such as Slack, and everyone must <strong>checks<\/strong> it promptly.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Allow_accesses_to_the_necessary_database_and_tools\"><\/span>Allow accesses to the necessary database and tools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We usually lock the database with a password and grant access to certain people. This is a safe way to protect the <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/10-steps-to-protect-the-online-business-from-cyber-attacks,241\/\">online business.<\/a> When a new employee onboard, always check if they can access an important resource. Having a password may not be enough to access the database. To protect the account, the system asks for <strong>extra codes<\/strong> or <strong>confirmation<\/strong> from another account. If they do not have access to essential resources, they have to wait until other works in different time zones start working.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_a_clear_workflow\"><\/span>Have a clear workflow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Work remote means that the company trusts the <strong>independence<\/strong> of each employee. Establish a clear workflow so they understand the following task when they finish each task. You can arrange the workflow with the virtual team by using the <strong>project management tools.<\/strong> A project management tool is a tool to visualization the workflow. In Useme, we use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlassian.com\/software\/jira\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jira<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trello.<\/a> When someone completes the task, they will move it to the review. So the colleague knows the work process without sending an extra message. If you are choosing the <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/7-chosen-project-management-tools-during-working-with-freelancers,227\/\">project management tool,<\/a> here is a comparison for you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Send_the_critical_email_at_the_working_hour\"><\/span>Send the critical email at the working hour<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Each mail service has a function to send an email at a particular time. Consider the time difference, and you can <strong>set the delivery time<\/strong> during the working hour. No one enjoys being bombarded when they start working. If the email is essential and needs to take care of it right away, add an extra <strong>word<\/strong> on the subject line so the colleague knows the importance of each email.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_the_daylight_saving_time_and_the_form_of_date\"><\/span>Check the daylight saving time and the form of date<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Check the day of the daylight saving time and try not to schedule meetings on that day. Our body gets tired easily because of the new schedule. Also, the forms of data are different in each country, for example, some countries usually start from <strong>Month\/Date\/Year<\/strong>, and some countries use Date\/Month\/Year. To avoid any misunderstanding, you can always check the date with your colleague.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_a_flexible_schedule\"><\/span>Have a flexible schedule<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A flexible working schedule is essential as everyone works in different time zone. Some colleagues may stay up late or start work early for a meeting. When everyone locates in a different location, it takes time to reach the <strong>perfect balance<\/strong> for everyone. Believe in your team member, and they have the power to finish the work within the deadline.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ask_the_urgent_question_early\"><\/span>Ask the urgent question early<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, we may forget the time difference, especially for <strong>urgent<\/strong> questions. We hope the time flies faster and even stay up late for the reply. It is inevitable to receive some message at an unexpected time. Be patient when you send a message. If you need an answer promptly, you can set the delivery time. So they receive the message right when they start working.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_automation_tools_to_work_more_effectively\"><\/span>Use automation tools to work more effectively<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Automation tools help the remote team to work more effectively. The teammate can stay focus on the important task and receive the finished work promptly. If you are awaiting an invoice from a contractor, you can click <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/secure-payment\/start\/\">here.<\/a> If you would like to set a meeting with a colleague in a different time zone, <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calendly<\/a> is a useful tool. If you need a central platform to access other online tools, <a href=\"https:\/\/zapier.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zapier<\/a> can be helpful for you.<\/p>\n<p>The company reaches the goal even though each time operates in multiple time zone. Both employer and customer can benefit from working across time zones. Set a specific deadline and combine it with a project management tool, so remote worker knows the operational flow. With video calls, online team bonding activity, you stay connected with your colleague even in different parts of the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The time difference is more than complicated mathematics calculation. When you finish the day, another colleague just starts the day. If you want to ask a question, you cannot just walk toward their desk because they are somewhere across the globe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":2080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23,25],"tags":[49,54],"class_list":["post-2079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-freelancers","category-for-employers","tag-freelance-cooperation","tag-freelance-tips"],"modified_by":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2079"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2081,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079\/revisions\/2081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}