6 Benefits of Asynchronous Work

For decades, businesses around the world all worked the same way. Everyone came to work at the same time. We all worked on tasks together at the same time. And then, we all left the office at the same time. In short, we worked in a really synchronous way. 

The rapid transition to remote working and globalization has changed this a bit. It made us all a little more independent and flexible, and in doing so, opened our eyes to the possibilities and benefits of asynchronous work.  

Today, we wanted to talk about some of those benefits and why many companies find value in switching to an asynchronous workflow.

What is asynchronous work? 

So, what is asynchronous work, exactly? Asynchronous work is simply the practice of completing tasks and projects without direct collaboration with other people. Instead, it involves independently working on activities, then sharing the results with your colleagues. 

Often, companies that work asynchronously work on the same tasks at different times. For example, a team of developers might work on an application separately, each taking tasks and coordinating with each other via Slack. They might never actually work simultaneously, but they can still work together – asynchronously.

Asynchronous work offers great flexibility, as employees can access tasks and complete them at their own pace and on their own time. In addition, it allows businesses to avoid the need to constantly coordinate with each other while still ensuring tasks and projects get completed on time. 

6 Benefits of asynchronous work

Switching to asynchronous work, whether with all or some components of your company, can create several advantages for your business. Here are some of the top benefits of asynchronous work. 

1. Greater employee flexibility

A McKinsey survey found that flexible working arrangements are among the top three reasons people seek a new job. In other words, workers want flexibility. And asynchronous work is something that helps to increase employee flexibility and autonomy. 

In asynchronous workflows, employees are often allowed to work when it makes sense for them. As a result, they can attack tasks when they feel most capable. Ultimately, this improves employee engagement and boosts retention and loyalty. It can also increase work-life balance, too. 

2. Supports employee mental health 

Stress is a significant reason why people leave companies. Managing work stress is challenging, especially when employees are expected to be connected around the clock. In our hyper-connected world, it’s easy for employees to feel like they must always be available.  

Moving to remote work with an asynchronous workflow improves opportunities for employees to step away. They still get the job done, but they do it when it’s best for them. As a result, swapping asynchronous work positively impacts employee mental health. 

3. Higher efficiency and productivity

Asynchronous workflows increase productivity for several reasons. For one, with less reliance on synchronous messaging and meetings to get work done, employees have more time for deep work and meaningful projects. 

Additionally, when employees are empowered to work when they feel most productive, their overall output is bound to improve. It’s part of why a study completed by the University of Chicago showed that 40% of people said they were more productive working remotely. 

With fewer meetings and in-person interactions, people can better focus on their most important tasks. And they can work at a time and in a process that works best for their needs, which results in greater efficiency. 

4. Fosters a trusting environment

Creating a trusting environment is critical to remote teams, and promoting asynchronous work makes it much easier to build employee trust. When your team works asynchronously, you send a clear message that you trust the employee to get their work done, which goes a long way. 

Working remotely already requires a bit of trust. Add in the ability to work asynchronously, and it can be a challenging transition. However, leaders who adapt to more flexible working arrangements send a clear sign to their employees that they’re fostering a trusting environment. 

5. Makes hiring global talent easier

One of the most significant benefits of remote work is that it opens your hiring possibilities. Now, you don’t have to hire someone in your geographic location. Instead, the whole world is available to you. However, hiring globally does present some challenges. For example, working across different time zones. 

Asynchronous work enables global teams to reach goals and accomplish tasks on their own schedule without the limitations of time zones. Also, it allows companies to stretch their coverage around the clock, which presents its own benefits. 

Start incorporating asynchronous work into your workflow

Unlike synchronous work, asynchronous work promotes flexibility, allowing employees to increase productivity, work-life balance, and more. Remote work makes asynchronous workflows more possible than ever before. In fact, working asynchronously may be the best way to work remotely. 

Here at Outstaffer, we help companies like yours hire, onboard and manage the best talent from around the world in just a few clicks. Additionally, our #WorkFromAnywhere platform enables your team to work asynchronously with solutions like Managed Devices, Workforce Monitoring, and Time & Attendance Tracking. 

Want more information? Schedule a demo now.