Async Work

Async work is a working model that allows team members to contribute, collaborate, and communicate on their own schedules, not simultaneously. Employees aren’t expected to be online at the same time, making this model highly beneficial for teams that are distributed across the globe. 

This type of collaboration can be conducted through various platforms, including Slack, email, Asana, and pre-recorded video, among others. 

To paint a picture of async work, think of a global marketing team working on updating the current campaign. To track progress, they make inputs into one Google Doc or record a short video instead of attending a status meeting, which might pose an inconvenience for some team members. 

Async work comes with plenty of benefits for employers and employees, some of which are outlined below. 

Better work-life balance

The async model brings a sense of independence and flexibility for employees, which isn’t often the case with the traditional 9-to-5 schedule. Employees feel empowered to schedule their day around family time, appointments, and time off. With better control over their time, employees can achieve the right work-life balance, which translates into the quality of their work. 

Increased productivity

Without the interruptions of notifications, meetings, and the pressure to reply instantly, employees fully dedicate themselves to work. These interruptions, no matter how small, stop the workflow, and the time to regain focus ranges from 8 to 25 minutes. Async workers also avoid the cognitive drain that comes with checking different tasks and communications. 

Access to global talent

A significant benefit of async work for businesses is that it allows them to hire global talent without worrying about time zone differences. Employees will be able to work on their regular working hours. At the same time, you, as an employer, will benefit from the advantages of global talent, including diverse perspectives, specialised skill sets, and local market insights.

Comprehensive documentation

Async work encourages teams to document decisions, discussions, and knowledge in a clear and consistent manner. By writing things down, teams build an accessible organisational memory that breaks down information and helps new members get up to speed quickly. This approach provides everyone with equal access to information, regardless of their time zone or schedule.

Although asynchronous work has many advantages, it also presents certain challenges that companies must consider.

Delayed responses

Async communication often delays decision-making when multiple stakeholders need to provide input, creating bottlenecks for time-sensitive projects or urgent issues that demand quick resolution. Decisions that teams could resolve in a single synchronous meeting may take days in an async environment as individuals respond on their own schedules.

Lack of team connection

Asynchronous work can weaken team connection by reducing opportunities for spontaneous interaction and real-time collaboration. Without casual conversations or face-to-face meetings, team members may struggle to build rapport, leading to feelings of isolation or disconnection. This lack of personal connection can affect trust, team cohesion, and overall morale.

Communication gaps

Written messages miss the nonverbal cues and body language that clarify tone and intent, which can lead to misunderstandings. Without regular real-time interaction, team members may feel isolated and disconnected. Teams can utilise asynchronous technologies to bridge these gaps, but they must do so intentionally. Leaders should establish clear communication norms that define when to use different channels.

The successful transition to async work requires implementing specific strategies that eliminate any coordination challenges.

Use the right tools

Many tools support collaboration in async work, including project management platforms, document collaboration tools, async video apps, digital whiteboards, and knowledge bases. When choosing platforms, focus on those that offer strong asynchronous features such as notification controls, threaded conversations, and search functionality.

Set clear expectations

Setting clear communication norms helps prevent frustration and confusion in async work by defining response time expectations and clarifying when immediate attention is needed. For example, teams might agree to respond to emails within 24 hours on workdays, reply to standard chat messages within 4–8 hours, acknowledge urgent flags within 2 hours during working hours, and post project updates by the end of the day in their local time zones.

Encourage self-sufficiency

Encouraging self-sufficiency is essential for successful asynchronous work, as it empowers team members to solve problems, find information, and advance projects without relying on constant input. When individuals know where to access resources, how to navigate documentation, and when to escalate issues, they contribute more efficiently and confidently.

Document everything

Comprehensive documentation drives successful asynchronous work by replacing many verbal exchanges with clear, accessible written information. To keep everyone aligned and productive, teams should document decision-making processes, project requirements, meeting notes, standard operating procedures, as well as team norms.

Balance async & sync work

Although async communication supports deep focus and flexibility, some situations, such as complex problem-solving and relationship building, benefit from real-time interaction. Teams should be intentional about when to bring people together live, using synchronous meetings strategically while allowing async workflows to handle routine updates and ongoing tasks.