What are effective ways to build relationships with people in different time zones?

1 Respect the time difference

One of the most obvious challenges of working across time zones is finding a suitable time to communicate. You don't want to interrupt someone's sleep, family time, or personal activities. Therefore, you need to respect the time difference and plan your meetings and messages accordingly. Use tools like World Time Buddy or Google Calendar to check the best times to reach out, and always ask for confirmation before scheduling a meeting. Also, be flexible and willing to compromise on your own availability, especially for urgent or important matters.

2 Use multiple communication channels

Another challenge of working across time zones is choosing the right communication channel. Depending on the urgency, complexity, and tone of your message, you may need to use different methods, such as email, phone, chat, or video call. Email is good for formal, detailed, and non-urgent messages, but it can also cause delays and misunderstandings. Phone is good for quick, informal, and urgent messages, but it can also be intrusive and inconvenient. Chat is good for casual, brief, and real-time messages, but it can also be distracting and overwhelming. Video call is good for personal, collaborative, and interactive messages, but it can also be demanding and exhausting. Therefore, you need to use multiple communication channels and balance them according to the situation and the preference of your remote colleague.

3 Embrace the cultural diversity

Another challenge of working across time zones is understanding the cultural diversity. You may encounter different values, norms, and expectations from your remote colleague, which can affect your communication, collaboration, and relationship. For example, some cultures may be more direct, formal, or hierarchical than others, which can influence how they express their opinions, give feedback, or make decisions. Therefore, you need to embrace the cultural diversity and learn from your remote colleague. You can do this by asking open-ended questions, listening actively, avoiding assumptions, and showing respect and curiosity.

4 Build trust and rapport

Another challenge of working across time zones is building trust and rapport. You may feel disconnected, isolated, or insecure from your remote colleague, which can affect your performance, satisfaction, and engagement. Therefore, you need to build trust and rapport by showing your reliability, competence, and empathy. You can do this by delivering on your promises, sharing your expertise, and providing support. You can also build trust and rapport by showing your personality, interests, and emotions. You can do this by using humor, sharing stories, and expressing appreciation.

5 Celebrate the achievements

Another challenge of working across time zones is celebrating the achievements. You may miss the opportunity to acknowledge, reward, or celebrate the success of your remote colleague, which can affect their motivation, recognition, and loyalty. Therefore, you need to celebrate the achievements by creating and joining virtual events, such as online parties, games, or awards. You can also celebrate the achievements by sending and receiving tangible gifts, such as cards, flowers, or vouchers. These gestures can show your appreciation, gratitude, and celebration for your remote colleague.

6 Keep learning and improving

The final challenge of working across time zones is keeping learning and improving. You may face new difficulties, conflicts, or changes in your remote work environment, which can affect your relationship with your remote colleague. Therefore, you need to keep learning and improving by seeking and giving feedback, resolving and preventing issues, and adapting and innovating your practices. You can also keep learning and improving by taking and offering training, mentoring, or coaching opportunities. These actions can help you grow, develop, and improve your relationship with your remote colleague.