Top 3 Pros & Cons of Working Remotely with Teams in Different Time Zones

Working remotely or Working from Home (WFH) has become part of many people's lives during this past year due to COVID-19. Yet, the reality is that for technology companies, it’s a well-known arrangement. 

Having a flexible work schedule is a dream for many people, but with it comes many responsibilities. I’m from Azores (UTC - 1), and for over a year, I’ve been working on projects in the APAC region – Malaysia (UTC + 8), New Zealand (UTC + 13), and Australia (UTC + 11). This article will discuss my experience while working for different time zones, the pros and cons, and a few tips and tricks.

Let’s look at the Pros

1 - There's always someone online and working on the project

Having different teams in different time zones working together means that, probably, there will always be someone working on the project 24/7. This is especially important when someone reports an issue that needs to be checked ASAP.

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2 - Getting to know different cultures

Working for different time zones will mean that you will get to know people from all around the world, also benefiting your company by bringing together diverse perspectives, values, and ideas. You can even be invited to travel to another country so you can work directly with your project colleagues. 

3 - Freedom to pick working time and place

Working 9-to-5 isn’t for everyone. Working remotely might also mean that you don’t have a fixed workplace and a fixed work schedule. You can check in which time you feel more productive and work on that schedule. While some people prefer to work in metropolitan areas, you have the opportunity to choose where you want to work. Have you ever dreamed of working from an RV, in the middle of nature, while watching the sunrise? Maybe this way you will have your opportunity.

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What are really the cons?

1 - Meetings may start very early or very late

When I worked on a project for a client in New Zealand, I tried to keep a 9-5 work schedule and then at 8 p.m. I had a meeting to discuss how my day had been and plan work for the following day. For me, this kind of approach didn’t work that well. You always get to the end of the day feeling that you have worked all day without any break. Another downside is that the day is beginning for them, so they always need a bit of time to check the progress you’ve made and, typically, this kind of meeting tends to extend a bit more.

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On the other hand, when I worked on a project for a client in Australia, I tried a different approach. Instead of having the daily meeting at the end of my day, I changed it to the beginning. And when I say beginning, I mean 5 a.m.! It’s very early in the morning, I know, but for me, it worked like a charm! I had the meeting, and then I worked the 8 hours straight till 1 p.m. You will need to try and see what works best for you. I’m the kind of person who prefers to have things done as soon as possible, so this second approach worked exceptionally well for me.

2 - You won't always get answers on time

You always need to have your work well organized. Imagine you are working on a feature, and you have a doubt that needs to be clarified before you can finish it. Will you wait till the next day to have your doubt clarified and be blocked the rest of the day? Make sure you always have a backup plan for this kind of occasion. If not managed correctly, this kind of thing can put schedules behind.

3 - You must have a good command of English

And when I say good, I mean it. When we have collaborators across various time zones, probably, English is not their native language. Always make sure that you fully understood what was required and that everyone is “speaking the same language.” Try your best to have a clear and natural accent so everyone can understand you completely.

Tips & Tricks

To tackle some of these challenges, I have come up with a few tricks that work for me and, hopefully, will work for you too:

• Prepare your meetings in advance. Make sure to have 10 minutes before you finish your workday to take notes of any obstacles, difficulties, or challenges you encountered to be prepared and address them quickly.

• Always confirm if the country you are working with observes Daylight Saving Time (DST). 

• Have a Team Chat Channel, like Slack, for example. It is as crucial to discuss your work as to get to know your colleagues.

• If you have early morning meetings, don’t wake up just 10 minutes before the meeting. The other team members are ending their day and are full of energy, and you will be sleepy and slow. 

• Check out Every Time Zone website. It shows your local time, alongside others, that you can add. You can drag it left or right and check different hours.

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Working remotely, and more specifically, working from home, has some significant advantages and disadvantages. And adding the extra vector of collaborating with globally dispersed teams might complicate matters. However, from my experience, with discipline and with the right tools, it is totally feasible and, in my case, rewarding. Though, it goes without saying that it wouldn't be possible in a traditional, closed-minded company. Having the trust of your peers and the management team is paramount to be successful in this endeavor.