The Unexpected Benefits of Asynchronous Remote Work – and How to Embrace Them

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of remote work. While some companies are eager to return to the office, many have realized the benefits of allowing employees to work from anywhere. However, the next evolution goes beyond just working remotely – it‘s about working asynchronously.

As a full-stack developer, I‘ve worked with distributed teams for years, experimenting with various modes of synchronous and asynchronous collaboration. I‘ve experienced first-hand the challenges and joys of async work done well. In this article, I‘ll share some unexpected benefits and tips for thriving in this new paradigm.

Defining Asynchronous Remote Work

First, let‘s clarify what we mean by "asynchronous." This refers to communication and collaboration that doesn‘t happen in real-time. Think email instead of live chat, or recorded video updates instead of meetings. Information flows as needed rather than on a fixed schedule.

The opposite is synchronous, where interactions happen in real-time like video calls or in-person conversations. Both modes are valuable, but async is a superpower for remote teams when used intentionally.

With that definition in mind, let‘s explore the benefits and best practices.

The Power of Productivity

One of the most compelling benefits of async work is the ability to maximize your productive flow. We all have different chronotypes and energy levels throughout the day. Forcing everyone into the same 9-5 schedule is counterproductive.

A study by Dr. Chris Barnes found that employees are most productive when they can align their work schedule with their individual circadian rhythm. Early birds can log on at dawn while night owls can burn the midnight oil without guilt.

Async work also protects you from the costly mental switching caused by frequent interruptions. Gerald Weinberg‘s seminal book "Quality Software Management: Systems Thinking" coined the term "mental context switching" to describe the time and energy toll of pivoting between tasks. He found that:

• Focusing on a single task at a time can double productivity
• 20% of a developer‘s time is wasted on mental context switching
• After an interruption, it takes 25 minutes to return to the original task

Asynchronous communication allows you to batch tasks and minimize expensive context switching. A study by RescueTime found that employees who check email and chat only a few times per day are more productive than constant checkers.

Personally, I‘ve found that blocking off chunks of uninterrupted time for deep work has been a game-changer for my productivity as a developer. With async, I can communicate when it works for me rather than being on alert 24/7.

Reclaiming Work-Life Balance

Another major perk of async work is the flexibility to integrate work and life more seamlessly. Gone are the days of rigid 9-5 schedules and long commutes. Async empowers you to design your workday around other priorities.

For working parents, this is a lifeline. Being able to handle school pick-ups, appointments, and family time without the stress of missing meetings is invaluable. For others, it means the freedom to pursue hobbies, side projects, or simply take a mental health break when needed.

A FlexJobs survey found that 73% of respondents ranked work-life balance as their top reason for wanting a flexible job. Another study by Mental Health America found that flexible work arrangements lead to better mental health outcomes and higher job satisfaction.

The key is having clear boundaries and communication. At Doist, the company behind productivity app Todoist, they have a "40 hours of overlap per week" rule. Employees can work whenever they want as long as it adds up to 40 hrs of synchronous collaboration. Outside of that, people protect their off time fiercely.

Personally, I‘ve found that setting "office hours" for synchronous communication and keeping the rest of my day async has helped me avoid burnout and actually enjoy my work more. The freedom to go for a mid-day run or have lunch with a friend is priceless.

Hiring Without Borders

Embracing asynchronous remote work opens up a global talent pool for employers. You can hire the best person for the job, period, regardless of location. For employees, it means access to opportunities beyond your backyard.

Pre-pandemic, Stripe was already seeing the advantages of hiring globally. Their 2018 report "The Developer Coefficient" found that 41% of Stripe‘s engineering team was hired outside of traditional tech hubs. This gave them a competitive edge in the war for top talent.

A report by Hired found that since COVID-19, 53% of tech companies are now more open to remote work and 42% are willing to hire in new locations to find the right candidate. Industry giants like Twitter, Dropbox, and Shopify have all announced "remote-first" policies.

As a developer, I‘ve had the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant teammates from Argentina to Russia to New Zealand. Exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences has made me a better problem-solver. Async communication strips away some of the unconscious biases that can creep into in-person interactions.

Of course, hiring and managing a distributed team comes with challenges. Bridging time zones, navigating cultural differences, and fostering human connection all require extra effort. But for companies willing to adapt, the benefits of async global hiring are massive.

The Bottom Line: Cost Savings

Hiring globally isn‘t just good for innovation – it‘s good for the bottom line. Companies can save significant money on office space, relocation costs, and employee perks when they go remote.

Global Workplace Analytics estimates that employers can save an average of $11,000 per employee per year by allowing them to work remotely half the time. That‘s just the tip of the iceberg when you factor in the productivity gains and reduced turnover associated with async remote work.

For employees, the savings add up too. A study by Upwork found that people who work remotely full-time save an average of $4,000 per year on things like commuting, lunch, and work clothes. That extra cash can be life-changing, especially for those supporting families or paying off student loans.

When I switched to working fully remotely, I was able to ditch my car and pocket that money instead. The mental load of commuting and the financial burden of car ownership were instantly lifted. I reinvested those savings into my workspace and professional development.

Forcing Better Communication Habits

One of the most underrated benefits of async remote work is how it forces teams to communicate more mindfully. When you can‘t tap someone on the shoulder for a quick question, you have to be more deliberate about what, when, and how you communicate.

Asynchronous communication tends to be more thoughtful and thorough. Since you‘re not putting someone on the spot, you can take time to clearly outline your message or request. Written communication also creates a handy record that can be referenced later as needed.

Many remote teams find that adopting a "default to transparency" approach streamlines information flow. Automattic, the company behind WordPress, has a rule that all internal communication should be public by default. If it‘s not sensitive or personal info, it goes in a public channel. This democratizes information and cuts down on repeat questions.

Establishing team norms is also crucial for async communication. At Buffer, another fully-remote company, they have a rule to "assume positive intent" and use more emojis to convey tone. They also use the acronym WAIT ("Why Am I Talking?") to avoid unnecessary meetings.

As an engineer, I‘ve found that embracing async communication has made me a better writer and communicator. I‘ve learned to provide ample context, anticipate questions, and be more direct in my requests. It‘s a skill that‘s served me well beyond just work.

The Toolbox: Async Essentials

Thriving in an async environment requires rethinking your toolbox. While email and instant messaging will always have a place, newer tools are emerging to support more nuanced async collaboration.

For communication, tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord allow for public channels, threads, and powerful search. Features like emoji reactions, pins, and "remind me" nudges facilitate async conversations.

Video is also having a moment for async communication. Loom is a popular tool for recording quick video messages and screenshares. At GitLab, another all-remote company, they default to recording meetings for those who can‘t attend live.

For project management, tools like Asana, Trello, Basecamp, and Notion help teams collaborate and stay in sync without meetings. Features like task assignments, due dates, and dependencies make it easy to track progress asynchronously.

Developers have additional tools to aid async collaboration. Git and GitHub make it easy to work on code together without stepping on toes. Comments and pull requests facilitate peer review. CI/CD automates testing and deployment. Platforms like CodeSandbox and Replit even enable real-time pair programming remotely.

The key is choosing tools that work for your team and using them consistently. At my current company, we have a shared guide with best practices for each tool. For example, we use Slack for ephemeral conversations and Google Docs for anything that needs to be permanently documented. Having a single source of truth streamlines async workflows.

Addressing the Challenges

Of course, async remote work is not without its challenges. The biggest one is the lack of in-person interaction and potential for isolation. A Buffer survey found that loneliness is the biggest struggle for 21% of remote workers.

To combat this, many async-first companies plan regular in-person meetups and retreats. At Zapier, another fully-remote company, they fly the whole team to a different city once a year for a week of bonding and brainstorming. The rest of the year, they foster watercooler chat in dedicated social Slack channels.

Boundaries between work and personal life can also blur with async work. It‘s easy to fall into an "always on" mentality when your home is your office. Establishing clear working hours, taking time off, and having a dedicated workspace can help.

Many async companies also offer generous time off and mental health resources. Basecamp gives employees a 1-month sabbatical every 3 years. Doist has a 40-day paid sabbatical after 5 years. Supporting people holistically is key for long-term async success.

Visibility and career growth for remote employees is another hot topic. A study by The Manifest found that 40% of remote workers feel less visible for promotions compared to onsite colleagues. To combat this, async companies need to prioritize intentional career planning, feedback, and growth opportunities for all employees.

Finally, async communication can exacerbate cultural differences and communication styles. What‘s seen as direct in one culture may be rude in another. Investing in intercultural training and being mindful of global perspectives is crucial for async teams.

The Future is Asynchronous

The past year has proven that remote work is here to stay. The next frontier is embracing the superpowers of asynchronous collaboration. As a developer, I‘ve seen first-hand how liberating and productive async can be with the right conditions.

By untethering work from set schedules and locations, async enables more diverse and distributed teams to do their best work. It‘s not just a stopgap measure, but a paradigm shift in how we approach work itself.

For companies, embracing async remote work now will be a key competitive advantage for attracting and retaining top talent. Stripe, Automattic, Basecamp, and GitLab are just a few examples of pioneering async companies outperforming industry standards.

The transition to async won‘t happen overnight. It requires rethinking deep-rooted conventions and behaviors. But for both companies and individuals willing to experiment and adapt, the benefits are transformative.

As an engineer, my quality of life and output have dramatically improved since embracing async remote work. I‘m able to integrate work into my life in a more holistic and fulfilling way. I‘m excited and energized to collaborate with teammates across time zones to build cutting-edge products.

If you‘re considering the transition to async remote work, start with small experiments. Block off some heads-down hours. Try a walking meeting instead of a video call. Record a Loom instead of scheduling another meeting. Iterate on what works for you and your team.

The key is shifting from a synchronous-first to an asynchronous-first mindset. Embracing the unique advantages of async will be essential for companies and workers to thrive in the future of work. Don‘t just wait for the next disruption – lead the change. The future is asynchronous.