You’re working with colleagues in different countries. How can you adjust your time management strategies?

Working with colleagues in different countries can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. You can learn from diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences, but you also have to deal with time zones, communication barriers, and deadlines. How can you adjust your time management strategies to make the most of your global collaboration? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Identify your priorities

The first step to effective time management is to identify your priorities and align them with your team's goals. What are the most important tasks that you need to complete? What are the deadlines and expectations of your clients or stakeholders? How do your tasks fit into the bigger picture of the project? Once you have a clear idea of your priorities, you can communicate them to your colleagues and plan your work accordingly.

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Khalida Shaheen

Social Media Marketing Manager | Content Writer ✍️👩💻 #web content writing #blog writing #articlewriting
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To effectively manage time when working with colleagues in different countries, consider the following strategies:  Establish Clear Communication Channels  Coordinate Schedules  Prioritize Tasks  Use Project Management Tools  Delegate Effectively  Establish a Shared Calendar  Flexible Work Hours  Regular Check-ins By implementing these strategies, you can enhance collaboration, improve efficiency, and successfully navigate the challenges of working across different time zones with your international colleagues.

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Asha Kanta Sharma

Manager - Finance & Accounts @ Opendoors Fintech | Financial Accounting
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To effectively manage time when working with colleagues in different countries, it's crucial to understand time zone differences, establish core working hours, communicate clear expectations, use asynchronous communication, schedule meetings thoughtfully, record meetings, use collaboration tools, plan ahead, respect personal time boundaries, and remain flexible and adaptable. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure effective communication, collaboration, and productivity, fostering successful outcomes for global projects.

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Angie Draca

Time Management & Productivity Coaching for Senior Public Servants and their People | Science based strategies for Improved Time Management & Greater Wellbeing | Unlock 2 Extra Hours for Each Team Member
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The first thing I would recommend is be clear on who is doing what. If you are all working on the same project, mind map out an action plan, allocate who is doing what so everyone is clear on what they need to do and when.

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2 Schedule your meetings wisely

One of the biggest challenges of working with colleagues in different countries is to find a suitable time for meetings. You don't want to disrupt your own or others' productivity, sleep, or personal life by scheduling meetings at inconvenient hours. To avoid this, you can use tools like World Time Buddy or Time Zone Converter to find the best time slots for everyone. You can also agree on a rotating schedule that balances the burden of odd hours among the team members. And when you do have meetings, make sure they are well-organized, focused, and respectful of everyone's time.

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Ernest Niba

MD | MBA | Emergency Medicine Resident | BLS/ACLS/ATLS Certified Provider | Co-author of World Dream Project | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumnus
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It's critical to modify time management techniques when working with colleagues abroad. First, in order to promote teamwork and real-time communication, I would set up overlapping working hours. During these overlapped hours, I would give priority to tasks that need collaboration or input from colleagues in different time zones. I would use asynchronous lines of communication, such as email and project management software, to exchange information and offer updates outside of regular business hours. In addition, I would respect each team member's time zone by arranging frequent check-ins or meetings at convenient times. Through adaptability, initiative, and consideration for different timetables, we can efficiently achieve our goals.

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Angie Draca

Time Management & Productivity Coaching for Senior Public Servants and their People | Science based strategies for Improved Time Management & Greater Wellbeing | Unlock 2 Extra Hours for Each Team Member
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Know when your hours overlap and be available during those precious hours. If there is no overlap take turns at very early mornings or late nights, if that is an option. Use video to updates for each other, these can be done, categorised and stored centrally so no matter your time zone you can find out where things are at.

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3 Set clear boundaries

Another challenge of working with colleagues in different countries is to set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. You may feel tempted or pressured to work longer hours, respond to messages at any time, or sacrifice your rest and well-being to accommodate others. But this can lead to burnout, stress, and reduced performance. To prevent this, you need to establish and communicate your boundaries to your team. Let them know when you are available and when you are not, and respect their boundaries as well. You can also use tools like Do Not Disturb or Out of Office to signal your status and avoid interruptions.

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4 Leverage technology

Technology can be a great ally for working with colleagues in different countries, as long as you use it wisely and effectively. You can leverage technology to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with your team, as well as to manage your own time and tasks. For example, you can use platforms like Zoom or Skype for video calls, Slack or Teams for instant messaging, Google Drive or Dropbox for file sharing, and Trello or Asana for project management. You can also use apps like RescueTime or Clockify to track your time and productivity, and Pomodoro or Focus Booster to break down your work into manageable chunks.

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Angie Draca

Time Management & Productivity Coaching for Senior Public Servants and their People | Science based strategies for Improved Time Management & Greater Wellbeing | Unlock 2 Extra Hours for Each Team Member
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In my experience working with people from different cultures, even when they are located in the same country as me, I find that I can assume too much. And it's only through reviewing there work and the questions they ask that i can actually hear and see what they are thinking... and it is not the same as what I was thinking :) Where ever possible, give people visual examples and use numbers to help them understand better what you are after. By numbers I mean, I want you to research 10 website and give me a 1 page summary of your findings on these topics.

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5 Be flexible and adaptable

Finally, working with colleagues in different countries requires you to be flexible and adaptable to changing situations and needs. You may encounter unexpected delays, misunderstandings, or conflicts that can affect your time management and collaboration. Instead of getting frustrated or stressed, you need to be open-minded and empathetic, and try to find solutions that work for everyone. You also need to be willing to adjust your time management strategies as you learn from your experience and feedback. By being flexible and adaptable, you can overcome the challenges and enjoy the benefits of working with colleagues in different countries.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re working with colleagues in different countries. How can you adjust your time management strategies?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your priorities

2 Schedule your meetings wisely

3 Set clear boundaries

4 Leverage technology

5 Be flexible and adaptable

6 Here’s what else to consider

Time Management

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You’re working with colleagues in different countries. How can you adjust your time management strategies?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your priorities

2 Schedule your meetings wisely

3 Set clear boundaries

4 Leverage technology

5 Be flexible and adaptable

6 Here’s what else to consider

Time Management

Rate this article

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