How Do We Benefit From Asynchronous Communication?
Many of us are so used to asynchronous communication that we’ve started taking it for granted.
But, have you ever really thought about what its benefits — for both our productivity and well-being — are?
Asynchronous communication is a real game-changer that has shown us we can work effectively without having to be “on” all the time.
Stick with us as we discuss the benefits async communication has brought to our work and lifestyle.
*This article is the abridged, adapted version of the blog post originally published on the Plaky blog: https://plaky.com/blog/asynchronous-communication/
What is asynchronous communication?
Asynchronous communication is any form of communication where you don’t expect to receive an immediate reply.??
Used mostly by remote workers and teams working across time zones, this communication type is widely accepted as a time-neutral means of doing business.?
Nowadays, we use various forms of asynchronous communication such as:
All of these help us in regular business communication when real-time cooperation is not really an option.
But, what benefits has asynchronous communication actually brought us??
Benefits of asynchronous communication
With the boom in remote and hybrid work, asynchronous communication gained popularity as it enabled a more flexible work environment.?
The most important benefits of async communication are closely related to its ability to influence:?
Asynchronous communication & our productivity
Thanks to asynchronous communication, we are no longer limited to office space or 9-5 workdays. This entire new perspective has had a great impact on how and when we choose to work.?
Namely, async communication affects your productivity by:
Freeing up time for deep work?
When you are not expected to be available all the time, you can prioritize tasks and allow yourself time for deep work when you are most productive.
Minimizing your meeting fatigue?
Asynchronous communication forms such as recorded video messages or presentations can be shared with team members and stakeholders instead of scheduling a Zoom meeting. This way, you don’t waste time on unnecessary meetings but can still stay up-to-date.
Giving you more autonomy?
Adopting an async mode of doing business means that you can plan your workdays and respond when you choose to. As long as you do your tasks on time, you are free to work on your own schedule.
Helping you reduce distractions
In a work environment that relies on asynchronous communication, it is perfectly OK if you don’t respond to messages and phone calls the moment you get them. You can turn off notifications to focus on work and reply a bit later, i.e., on your own terms.
Essentially, asynchronous communication allows you to use your peak productivity periods in the best way and improve your overall work quality.?
Asynchronous communication & our well-being
Spending your workdays attending endless (and often unnecessary) meetings and responding to messages and emails can certainly get stressful.?
Did you know that a study on the cost of interrupted work found that people tend to work faster to compensate for the time they lost while dealing with interruptions? But while trying to make up for the lost time, they experienced more stress and showed higher levels of frustration.?
It doesn’t have to be that way!?
By adopting asynchronous communication, you’ll be able to regain control over your schedule and:?
Have more time to think and respond?
Asynchronous communication doesn’t require an immediate reply or reaction and therefore gives you time to reflect on your thoughts before you respond. This way, you avoid misunderstandings and can give precise feedback.
Reduce performance anxiety?
Trying to juggle between tight deadlines and tasks on the one hand and meetings, emails, and calls on the other can be overwhelming and detrimental to your mental health.?
With asynchronous communication, you can regain control of your work schedule and stop pressuring yourself to be always available.
Facilitate inclusivity?
With various styles of async communication, everyone can contribute and take part in discussions the way it suits them best. This is especially important for team members who suffer from social anxiety as they can communicate without pressure and still express their viewpoints.
Enable a better work-life balance?
When you are able to work on your own schedule, you can set boundaries, accommodate your personal life, and find your best routine. With asynchronous communication, you have the flexibility to structure your workday and still manage your personal needs.???
Make asynchronous communication seamless with Plaky
When you have the option to use asynchronous communication at work, why not choose a tool that can support you in many ways? This is where Plaky is happy to help!
Plaky is cloud-based team collaboration software that enables you to enjoy seamless asynchronous communication i.e., stay connected, coordinated, and aligned with your team with no time zone boundaries.
So how does it work?
For starters, you can leave comments and provide feedback directly in Plaky’s item cards. The @mention feature is a great addition to this as you can get the attention of your team members.?
Also, whatever change is made to items and boards, you will be notified in no time. In Plaky, you can receive notifications for items assigned to you or those you are subscribed to and always stay up-to-date on the progress of relevant tasks.?
Last but not least, you can check Plaky’s activity log to get a real-time record of all item and board changes so that you stay informed at all times.
Time is precious and so is your well-being. Take care of both and make your asynchronous communication seamless with Plaky. Sign up for free today!?