Real-time vs Asynchronous Communication

Adventures in Businessing: Entrepreneurship, Small Business, and a Healthy Dose of Humor

Show Notes

• [0:01:01] Episode Summary & Intro

• Machoman, Koolaid Man, or Wolfman Jack?

• [0:02:04] Communication Round 2

• Brief Recap of the Last Episode
• Real Time Communication vs Asynchronous
• • We started collocated, in-office and transitioned to remote work.
• Benefits of Synchronous Communication
• • While is it so alluring to maintain?
  • Let’s be honest, real time communication is easier.
  • • But is it better?
• There’s an Idea That Moving Fast is Superior to Being Methodical & Intentional
• • That idea is wrong, and here’s why.
  • Fast often equals “move quickly...and break things”.
• Communicating Asynchronously is Something You Have to Learn
• • A skill like any other.
• We Often Confuse Activity with Progress
• • The truth is, you can be active but not get anything done.
• Asynchronous Communication Tends to be More Thoughtful, More Crafted
• • Be reading something, you get to sit down and really process communication.

• [0:10:58] Asynchronous Communication as a Tool to Level the Playing Field

• How asynchronous communication benefits those who process communication atypically: neuro divergence, or otherwise on the spectrum.
• Not a speed typist? Asynchronous communication is a massive boon.
• • Here’s why.

• [0:13:33] How Can We Set Guardrails & Best Practices for Asynchronous Expectations?

• It takes practice.
• • Not just writing but reading asynchronously.
• It requires mutual respect.
• There should be shared understanding on a general timeframe of when you should hear a response.
• • But sometimes just commenting that you’re still processing the last response and formulating your answer is key.
• Silence is seen as approval, for better and worse.

• [0:17:20] There is a Cost to Real TIme

• A one hour real time conversation isn’t “just a hour”, it’s four hours of business time taken.
• • When you move it asynchronous, it doesn’t take a hour of everyone’s time; it’s more thoughtful, and can allow those involved to come to solutions even quicker with little practice and training.
  • Real time is expensive.
• We’re not saying you should never have real time conversations.
• • We are saying you should make sure they’re worth it.
  • • You want to combat the “this meeting could have been an email” notion.

• [0:19:01] Should we be All Asynchronous All the Time?

• The cost of asynchronous is a breakdown in real human connection.
• • Left unchecked, this leads to work becoming soulless and transactional.
  • Connection is a fundamental piece.
• It’s not one or the other.
• • It’s about identifying the proper communication method for a given topic, task, idea, etc.
  • It’s not ‘either or’, it’s ‘yes and’.
• There is something to be said for asynchronous communication making it too easy not to intentionally document things.
• • This is less than great. Be mindful of what needs to be documented.

• [0:22:55] Additional Challenges

• Real time communication has the potential to steal the party’s best time to get ‘deep work’ done.
• • Ask your team members when their preferred times to do deep work is, and schedule meetings around this time, not during it.
  • Don’t steal productive time from team members...unless the meeting is innately conducive to (and dependent on) their role specific productivity.

• [0:26:59] Be Thoughtful About Your Communication

• Consider the following for your meetings and communication in general:
• • What is the best way to go about this particular communication?
  • • (Synchronous or asynchronous?)
  • What's the best time?
  • What is the subject matter?
  • What do we need to get out of it?
  • Who needs to be here and why?
• Communication is the hardest thing to do correctly and effectively in your business.
• • But it’s also the most important thing to figure out today.
• Next Time on AIB
• • How to Do it All Better!