What is asynchronous communication?
Asynchronous communication means exchanging meaningful information with the expectation that the other person will get back within a reasonable timeframe instead of immediately. A phone call or a chat conversation are synchronous. So are meetings, both online and in real life. Collaboration on a google doc or the discussion on a forum is usually asynchronous.
Advantages of asynchronous communication
When organizing a video conference or an in person meeting you need to find a time that works for everyone. In an office, this is a challenge. Across time zones, this is a serious problem, and it puts those on a disadvantage who are attending at odd times. Discussing something at 10am is simply not the same as tackling the same situation at 10pm. That’s why fully distributed companies tend to use meetings only to make specific decisions, or for social purposes. Work related discussions and information gathering can happen independently.
Some examples are discussions threads on Github or an internal forum, or comments and edit suggestions on a Google Docs. These options mean that everyone can think through their own arguments before sharing their view. They can look for additional resources or link back to other discussions that happened elsewhere. This takes time, and it allows for more depths in discussions.
Asynchronous communication is scary
Most asynchronous communication is in written format, and all of it can be analyzed. It’s not possible to see the immediate reaction of the recipient, and if there are flaws in your logic, you can’t really gloss over it. You can be quoted, and depending on where the message is posted, more people than expected might get involved. Psychological safety is a requirement for asynchronous communication to work.
This means, leaders have an important role to play as they participate and invite others to add their voices. Asynchronous communication is not simply about conveying pre-approved points of view. It’s secret superpower lies in taking the heat out of emotional debates, redirecting the focus to research and structured thinking. This means that the original poster should be open to change their own point of view, and to work with the commenters to find a solution to existing challenges.
Writing well is a learnable skill
Most asynchronous communication happens in written format, as a post or an article that others can comment on. Sometimes there might be a video involved, but most of the time, the reactions are in writing. Luckily, writing well is a learnable skill, and you tend to get better the more you practice.
Next time you need input from others for an idea, instead of calling a meeting: write it down. Tag or mention those whose opinion and knowledge you value, and ask them to add their point of view by a certain date. You can then use the collected feedback to create a shorter and more impactful decision meeting.