WLP329 The Principles of Asynchronous Communication
In this solo episode, Pilar introduces the Five Principles of Asynchronous Communication.
Pilar and Simon Wilson worked with a client earlier in the year, to help them adopt more asynchronous communication. As they surveyed the people in the organisation, they realised that their ways of working were varied, and the most useful approach would be to introduce them to a set of principles they could adapt to their teams, workflows and work styles.
In this episode, Pilar talks through the five principles and suggests some ways in which they can be adapted.
The Five Principles of Asynchronous Communication
1) Team interactions work best when they have one focus: co-ordination, collaboration or connection.
Dividing our interactions into coordination (like planning tasks or checking in), collaboration (such as decision making, problem solving, co-creating), and connection can bring clarity and structure to our communication.
2. Teamwork happens in stages, and these can happen asynchronously or synchronously.
Some work can be done asynchronously, while others need synchronous communication. Identifying these stages, and the most suited communication allows for more effective collaboration.
3. Designing together promotes inclusivity.
Being intentional about communication practices can lead to a more inclusive environment. It's about understanding everyone's needs and adapting communication styles accordingly.
4. Asynchronous communication needs calendar time.
Just like synchronous meetings, asynchronous communication should also be scheduled into your calendar.
5. Approach new asynchronous practices as experiments: agree, test, and review.
Reviewing our practices is important to understand why they are or aren’t working, make the necessary adjustments and learn more about how we work as a team.
If you are a new manager, or new to managing remote teams, you might be interesting in our new audio-first course on asynchronous communication.
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