With these tools at hand, managing projects that span multiple time zones will not be too hard anymore!
Remote employment is becoming increasingly popular. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2022, 80% of employees use hybrid or remote options, while only 20% work on-site. This trend is expected to continue, meaning more individuals will be working in different time zones. While remote work offers flexibility and convenience, it can be challenging to adapt to different working hours, holidays and varying work durations. Constantly organizing projects, assigning duties and scheduling meetings with colleagues on the other side of the world can be more tedious than you think.
Fortunately, there are a few tools available to assist you in maintaining order and increasing productivity while working remotely or managing a remote team effectively. Here are some that you need to install on your laptop now.
Time zone converters
Keeping track of time across different time zones can be difficult, but time zone converters can make it much easier. These tools are invaluable for ensuring that you’re always aware of what time it is in different places. They allow you to stay on top of important deadlines, meetings and other events no matter where you are.
There are a number of time zone converters available, such as World Chat Clock, Time and Date and more. For example, with World Chat Clock, you can add up to four cities at once and view their overlapping business hours or hours of the day between cities and individual office hours. Another app called Time and Date is great for quickly getting time conversion data with respect to local time zones and daylight saving time (DST). Other noteworthy time converter apps are World Time Buddy, Every Time Zone, 24timezones, etc.
Project management tools
Project management tools are essential for keeping everyone in the loop, making sure tasks are completed on time and avoiding duplicated efforts. They can be especially helpful if you’re working with a remote collaborator who may be active when you’re asleep. Popular project management tools like Notion, Basecamp and Trello help teams stay organized and efficient. They help you keep track of deadlines, assign tasks and report progress to keep everyone up to date.
To choose the best one for your team, make sure to carefully consider the features the tool offers, such as storage space, project view and tracking capabilities. Since many of these tools will likely require a subscription for businesses, you should also compare the prices and check whether they are compatible with all the members of your team. Some tools, like Microsoft 365, can only be used or renewed in the same country as the original subscription, so your team members located in other countries will not be able to use them.
Instant messaging apps
Instant messaging tools provide a convenient way to communicate in real-time, making them popular among businesses with remote employees. These tools can increase productivity and save time by allowing team members to reach out to each other instantly regardless of time differences and without having to schedule a meeting or call. In addition, they facilitate collaboration by allowing announcements and documents to be easily shared via the platform.
WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram and Facebook Messenger are some of the popular instant messaging applications. These applications contain features like group chat, video and audio calls and file sharing that make them ideal for corporate interactions. Moreover, you can customize your messages by using multiple fonts, colors and emojis, adding a personal touch to your communication. The best part is that they are free to download and use, making them an attractive option for cash-strapped businesses.
Time management tools
Working remotely in disparate time zones requires the correct tools to stay on task. If you want to boost productivity and client satisfaction, then ClickUp or Todoist can be a great help with their daily planner and scheduler features. From calendars to lists, ClickUp offers more than ten ways to view your daily tasks or project timelines. It’s an excellent choice for teams with complex workflows. On the other hand, Todoist is a user-friendly tool to manage your everyday to-dos while creating subtasks, recurring tasks and notifications. It’s a great option for individuals or small teams with more straightforward task management needs.
RescueTime also comes highly recommended, as it can provide insights into users’ daily patterns, allows goal setting and offers distraction blockers. It’s particularly useful for remote workers to remain focused and productive.
Moreover, Calendar, SavvyCal or SimplyMeet.me are excellent for scheduling meetings, managing deadlines and other important dates—all of which are conveniently accessible from anywhere in the world. Without them, there would otherwise be a risk of losing all sense of detachment from your job. Therefore, these apps prove themselves to be invaluable for remote workers.
By taking advantage of these tools that are designed to keep track of multiple time zones, you’ll be able to stay in sync and make sure that everyone is on the same page no matter where they’re located. So don’t let geographical distance stand between you and success and start using these helpful tools to better navigate remote work!
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