Confession: I had to google what “asynchronous” meant. But, in the googling, found this really wonderful article. https://doist.com/blog/asynchronous-communication/
I actually started to feel peaceful by the end of it because it had so many helpful communication ideas. Here are some highlights:
What is asynchronous communication?
Simply put, asynchronous communication is when you send a message without expecting an immediate response. For example, you send an email. I open and respond to the email several hours later.
In contrast, synchronous communication is when you send a message and the recipient processes the information and responds immediately. In-person communication, like meetings, are examples of purely synchronous communication. You say something, I receive the information as you say it, and respond to the information right away.
In general, use synchronous communication when the following is true:
- You want to build rapport with people (e.g., a 1-on-1 or team meeting).
- You need to provide critical feedback or discuss other sensitive topics.
- You have a lot of unknowns and you want to brainstorm different ideas and solutions.
- There are a lot of moving variables and you want to bring everyone on the same page quickly, e.g., via a project kickoff meeting.
- A crisis happens that requires immediate attention, e.g., a server crashes. We use Telegram with the notifications turned on at all times for emergency communications only.
Synchronous communication should be the exception, not the rule.