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In 2020, everyone was suddenly forced to work and learn from home. A shockwave swept through society. But after we got over the first shock, it sometimes turned out to be nothing surprising at all. No more getting stuck in traffic every day. Just put some laundry in the machine during working hours. And we also noticed that some things were not only done as well, but sometimes even better than when we were in the office between 9 and 5.
However, many companies and employees still have some doubts.
Do we have to go back to work in sync, so we all go back to the office and meeting room? Or oblige people to a maximum number of days of attendance?
However, the choice doesn't have to be so black and white. It is not an either/or. It can also be one-and-one. Take advantage of both ways of working and learning. As long as you ensure the right interconnection, people don't always have to be present at the same time to work well together or study.
We are convinced that the combination of synchronous and asynchronous work is a great option for many organisations and their employees.
We list a few of the benefits of working asynchronously.
An office can be a real dovecote. Colleagues fly in and out. Sometimes you end up at your desk unexpectedly, just when you're working on your project. It often has a business reason, followed by “do you have a minute?” a concrete question or problem.
But you should probably also regularly read a detailed report on the past weekend at such a time. Whatever the reason for that violation of your focus: it's not very efficient.
On average, someone is disturbed five times per hour during an office day. If you consider that after each disruption, it takes about 20 minutes to get back into your flow, you end up with an incredible amount of less productive time per day.
By working asynchronously, you can regulate the disruptions much better. You can turn off your mail, your phone can be on airplane mode. Then you'll make the steps you just needed to bring your project to a successful end, or to absorb that difficult textbook.
In addition, you are less visible to your colleagues, and someone will only contact you when it is really necessary. That saves a lot of time and energy!
Once upon a time, the normal working time during the day grew to nine to five. That was purely practical: you needed each other's presence to get a job done. Emailing, texting or calling each other wasn't possible back then.
However, these standard times do not always feel logical, let alone pleasant. One person is a morning person, the other really gets going late at night. In fact, you would love to take your children to school yourself. Or maybe, due to a disability, you need longer to start the day or take in course material.
The good news is that that corset no longer needs to be tightened. After all, working asynchronously is an excellent solution. It offers you the opportunity to shape your working day according to your personal preferences and possibilities. All you need is good Wi-Fi, a few adjustments to your work processes and, above all, the right mindset.
Working asynchronously not only means flexibility in working hours, but also in terms of work location. This represents a major shift in the opportunities on the labor market, from both sides.
When you're looking for a new job, you don't have to be limited to companies around the corner anymore. Actually, the world is at your feet.
A fun job in Aruba, a great project in New York or Prague? Learn a language, arrange mutual communication and work arrangements, and get to work!
Working asynchronously is also a solution for many employers. Especially at a time when good employees are as hard to find as needles in a haystack, it is nice to be able to look beyond your own region when it comes to a vacancy.
However, a well-facilitated work environment is essential. This goes beyond just providing people who work regardless of time and place with the right hardware, such as laptops and phones. Also consider an extensive onboarding, good intranet, efficient systems and, for example, a well-filled knowledge base and learning management system.
Is' just 'going to the office completely over? Certainly not as far as we are concerned. As enthusiastic as we are about the many possibilities of working asynchronously, we also warmly advocate the combination with synchronous working. In our view, meeting each other live from time to time remains indispensable. For consultation, but also for mutual social contacts between colleagues and management.
So keep using the office as a shared meeting place. This is essential for good onboarding and team building.
But even during meetings, it's so much easier to 'read' each other and pick up small physical signals than during a video call.
Make a conscious choice where and when you work. Do you have routine jobs to do and do you like to have company? Then it's nice to sit among colleagues. But in the event of a difficult exam or project, you don't want to be interrupted.
Then use the option to work asynchronously. At your own pace, at your own favorite location and, above all, with the necessary focus. This is good for your job satisfaction, and good for your productivity.
Pluvo specialises in flexible online solutions for working and studying. That's why we have many useful tips and tricks for every employer and employee who wants to work more or better asynchronously. Feel free to contact us via the chat in the bottom right corner and we'll be happy to help you out!
