Examples, tools and workflows for asynchronous communication
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Need some asynchronous communication examples to inspire your remote team to work more productively and cohesively? If yes, you have come to the right place.
And that’s exactly how team members feel when you use asynchronous communication.
Every employee can find what they need, when they need it, to collaborate and do their best work on their own time. This type of communication keeps everyone updated and on the same page.
In today's post, we'll introduce you to the best examples of asynchronous communication tools your team should use.
But first, a quick introduction if you're not part of #TeamAsynchronous yet.
Examples of synchronous and asynchronous communication: what is the difference?
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In our guide to everything you need to know about asynchronous communication for remote work environments, we discussed the biggest differences between synchronous and asynchronous communication. We also explored the benefits of asynchronous communication (AC) and the best practices your remote team must follow for success.
If you're new to AC, you should read this guide first. And if you've already done that, here's a quick summary:
Synchronous communication occurs in real time between team members . Examples of synchronous communication include phone calls, video meetings, desk conversations, and water cooler conversations.
Asynchronous communication occurs “out of sync” or not at the same time. You and your team will send messages without expecting an immediate response. Everyone can respond when it is most productive, scheduling responses during breaks between intense, focused work.
AC gives teams the ability to complete tasks without interruption, which increases productivity. And when requests or questions come in, everyone has more time to think about the answers and determine the best course of action. All of this can help your remote team improve communication.
Asynchronous examples, tools and workflows
Many asynchronous communication platforms also enable synchronous communication. The secret to successful remote communication and collaboration is knowing when to use which tool at the right time and for the right task.
Here's an overview of what we think works best:
Google Workspace: Bestes All-In-One
Google Workspace allows teams to collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. Team members can work on the same resources simultaneously or individually. They can also leave comments and ask questions directly in the worksheet for others to see and answer in their time.
Team leaders can track time-stamped changes made by team members, approve suggestions, or request additional edits/clarifications. Every move is saved automatically, so everyone is always working with the most current document.
Google Workspace also includes chat, video conferencing and Jamboard, a digital whiteboard collaboration tool.
Example of asynchronous communication : You put together a marketing proposal and leave a comment showing Nadiya exactly where you want to insert a table . You include a link to the table with the data you want it to use in the comment.
Project Management Tools: The Best for Tracking Work in Your Pipeline
Every leader needs a solid PM tool to lead a high-performing remote team.
Project management tools help teams plan, organize, and track everyone's work in one central location. You'll get a visual, bird's-eye view of what's being worked on, what's delayed, and what's coming up.
You can also assign employees to each task, set deadlines, and allocate the resources necessary for the work.
Your employees can see who is working on what, comment on tasks, ask questions, and provide updates on the same card/board to keep everything organized. This reduces confusion and gives everyone an idea of what they are responsible for.
The most popular project management tools for remote teams include:
Example of asynchronous communication : Your team is launching a new product. You create milestones for completing campaign messages, recording videos, and working on landing pages. You assign individual tasks to employees, give them a deadline and include all the tables, mockups and text they need to get started straight away.
Knowledge Management System: Best for FAQs and company policies
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Knowledge hubs or internal wikis contain all of your company's documents, FAQs and resources. This internal knowledge base should include company policies, human resources procedures and department procedures, virtual onboarding documents, and other briefs.
These quick-reference materials are best when you need to explain the same thing to multiple employees (e.g. your vacation policy). They also prevent team leaders from being inundated with the same questions.
Employees can find answers themselves without holding up work or waiting for a team leader in a different time zone to respond to their questions.
The best knowledge bases for remote teams include:
Example of asynchronous communication : Your company has updated the expense submission process. You instruct your team to read the new process before submitting expenses for the next quarter.
Communication Tools: The best for staying in touch whenever
Communication tools combine email and instant messengers/chats in a central platform. Team leaders can set up different channels to organize teams and topics. Then employees can send each other messages that stay on any topic.
Everyone can respond to messages or have real-time conversations in their own time. This gives teams the opportunity to retreat for in-depth work (without missing anything) and a place to return to for break conversations.
The best communication tools for remote teams include:
Example of asynchronous communication : Your employees start every Monday with a quick team greeting and let everyone know what they hope to accomplish by Friday. You send praise to your high-performing employees and watch as your team showers them with funny emojis.
Informational/How-To Videos: Best for conveying complex information
If you need to explain a new process, workflow, or workaround, a video message is more engaging and easier to understand than a long email. And you don't have to schedule all employees for a video call.
There are a variety of video platforms that allow you to record a video of yourself, your screen, or a combination of both to share with your team.
You are able to create a well-planned presentation in advance and build rapport with your tone of voice, facial expressions, and other forms of nonverbal communication. You also won't forget important points or be distracted by questions, as might be the case on a Zoom call.
While you discuss problems or give instructions, employees have time and space to process the new information independently. You can pause the video to take notes or watch it again later if you need further explanation. And they can respond with thoughtful questions or feedback after they've processed everything.
The most popular video tools for remote teams include:
Example : Your CRM has a bug that requires a complicated workaround until the problem is resolved. You record a video to show your team how to get the information they need and avoid the mistake. This is much quicker than typing a long email describing the problem and explaining the temporary solution.
Screenshots with markup: Best for quick queries
Even though your team may not use some of these asynchronous communication platforms, everyone has access to screenshots. Instead of sending an email about a specific task or issue, it's much easier (and more helpful!) to take a screenshot and clearly highlight your comments and notes.
Your team can see exactly what you're referring to, so they can get to work right away, no questions asked.
Example of asynchronous communication : The ratings widget for one of your landing pages no longer works. You take a full-size screenshot, including the web address, issue, and time. Then you draw a bright red circle around the problem and add a note explaining to your development team what should be there. You start working on the broken code as quickly as possible.
Time to put these asynchronous communication examples into practice
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Choosing the right platform for your asynchronous communication makes the difference in how your message is received and how you respond to it. These asynchronous communication examples will show you how to use the right tool to explain a complex task or convey details to your teams quickly and efficiently.
The more information team members have, the easier it is for them to begin their tasks. This means you can all work together and communicate with each other despite different working hours or time zones.
And when everyone pulls together, you increase productivity and function like a well-oiled machine.
