Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The business environment has become global and it has enabled people to work and collaborate with clients across different times. This surge has led to many freelancers and companies working with clients from all over the world but one of the major issues that these people face while working with international clients is the difference in time zones. Managing time zone differences is not quite easy, as you have to be proactive and be available during the work hours of your client. Otherwise, you may face miscommunications, missed deadlines, and inefficiencies. If you are looking to work with an international client and navigate time zone differences, then these tips will make it easier for you.

Understand your client's time zone

Before proceeding ahead, understanding your client’s time zone difference is very important. You should be well aware of where your client is located (e.g you are in Europe and your client is in Abu Dhabi) and what his or her time zone is so that you can stay in touch with them and not inadvertently contact them during non-working hours, such as when they are asleep or when they are offering prayers in according to the Abu Dhabi prayer schedule. Along with understanding the local time of your client, you should also be aware of time zone variations as some regions observe daylight saving time and it can cause time differences to shift throughout the year.

Set proper expectations for response times

Setting proper expectations for response times with international clients is also very important. Tell your clients and let them know about your average response time and how quickly they can expect to hear back from you. For instance, you should let your clients know that they can expect to hear from you within 24 hours normally and 4-6 hours for urgent matters. The benefit of setting expectations for response times is that clients won’t be left wondering when they will get a response back from you.

Establish mutually agreed work hours

Discussing and establishing mutually agreed working hours can make communication and collaboration easier for both you and your clients. Discuss the time zone differences with your client and agree on overlapping work hours during which both of you are available. In case you cannot agree on overlapping working hours, try to be flexible and adjust your schedule slightly, so as to find a common ground with your client. Being flexible and adaptable to your client's availability can show your commitment and help foster long-term relationships with the client.

Plan meetings strategically

One of the most important aspects of working with international clients is meetings. Online meetings are the cornerstone of remote work, as these help you to discuss upcoming tasks and projects, and also avoid miscommunication. If working hours don’t overlap and there is a significant time zone difference between you and your client, then consider setting alternative times for meetings such as early hours or late hours between both parties. In case that is not possible, recording meetings and sharing the recording with the client is also an option so that they can watch the recordings later on.

Agree on preferred mode and channels of communication

Agreeing on a preferred mode of communication and communication channels with your clients is also very important while working remotely. There are two main types of communications here; Synchronous communications that happen live and in real time, such as when both parties are online at the same time, and Asynchronous communications that don’t take place at the same time and messages can be sent, received, and replied to at each party’s convenience. Discussing and agreeing on preferred types of communication and modes of communication with clients is important to establish ground rules for communication. For instance, you can agree on email for non-urgent matters, Instant messaging for quick questions, and Video calls for detailed discussions.

Choose the right communication and collaboration tools

Lastly, choosing the right communication and collaboration tools is very important because these tools are the unsung heroes of remote working, just like PrayerTimes.One is the unsung hero to stay updated with prayer times in cities around the world including New York, Dubai, and London. With the right collaborative and communication tools, you will be able to share ideas, work together, and have detailed discussions without any miscommunication or missed deadlines. The commonly used communication and collaboration tools include Gmail, Trello, Asana, Slack, Notion, Google Docs, Zoom, Skype, and MS Teams. CAM/Expat Media