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Today’s world is highly connected, which means that entrepreneurs are not restricted by geography any more. Clients, stakeholders, collaborators, freelancers and partners can be spread across multiple time zones. Although advantageous in many ways, it does mean you need to stay ahead of the clock in order to run your business smoothly.
To help you juggle international meetings and deadlines like a pro, try these eight smart techniques:
1. Invest In An Accommodating Work Space
Flexibility is essential when you work across time zones. A collaborative workspace with executive offices for rent that is open 24/7 ensures you have the perfect setup when you require round the clock access to keep up with international clients.
2. Use Various Methods Of Communication
So that you and your team can respond when it is convenient, use all the different kinds of communication available — chat apps, project management tools, email, recorded video messages. The important point is that the message gets received when it needs to be.
Ideally, the communication systems you choose will keep a recording of any exchanges in an organized manner, so everyone can refer to what has been shared. This will benefit the overall project and goals.
3. Skip Manual Meeting Planning
There are tools available that you can use to suggest meeting times that work for everyone. You simply input relevant information, and AI does the work for you. Even better, the apps will often send the meeting request out for you as well, and accept adjustments and attendee counts as well, so there is no time wasted going back and forth.
4. Rely on Time Zone Converters
Even those who are amazing at math get tripped up by time differences and trying to work the correct time for meetings across the world. Instead of falling at the first hurdle, use easy time zone conversion websites or apps so you’re always connected with your clients at the right time of day or night.
5. Communicate Your Working Hours Clearly
To avoid burnout, it is so important for you to establish boundaries when it comes to your availability. Most importantly, communicate those times clearly with clients and manage their expectations. When you are unavailable, ensure you have notifications and other communications set up so that those who do get in touch outside your working hours know when you’ll get back to them, or when they can reach you.
6. Batch Schedule By Time Zone
If you can schedule your group calls with multiple clients in the same time zone, your calendar will be much more efficient. It also means you might only spend, say, a couple of afternoons on work calls, rather than random, disruptive hours across the week.
7. Rotate Rubbish Meeting Times
To avoid anyone in your team getting annoyed at always having to attend meetings at their least favorite times, rotate the schedule so that everybody takes turns attending meetings during less-than-ideal hours.
8. Leverage Time Zones for 24/7 Customer Service
As an entrepreneur in the digital age, you have the ability to work with a global team. Leverage that fact by working with a team spread out across multiple time zones so that you can meet the needs of your customers and clients in different parts of the world.
While working with global clients across multiple time zones can be challenging, it can also benefit your business tremendously. By leveraging the right tools, ensuring clear boundaries are set, and using smart scheduling techniques, you can make your global business a seamless, productive enterprise.
Photo by Ion (Ivan) Sipilov on Unsplash