{"id":22907,"date":"2021-04-26T10:22:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T10:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/5-tips-to-work-effectively-with-your-data-team-across-different-time-zones\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T11:52:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T11:52:39","slug":"5-tips-to-work-effectively-with-your-data-team-across-different-time-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/bigdata-cloud\/5-tips-to-work-effectively-with-your-data-team-across-different-time-zones\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips To Work Effectively With Your Data Team Across Different Time Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22907\" class=\"elementor elementor-22907\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-335bda8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"335bda8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4ee84b\" data-id=\"a4ee84b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b637664 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b637664\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Remote work has become a necessity amid the pandemic and some companies are even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/silicon-valleys-next-big-office-idea-work-from-anywhere-11589740234\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">keeping their workforces remote indefinitely<\/a>. In some ways, this affords more flexibility for work location than ever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Before the peak of the pandemic, I decided to travel around the world for a year. My employer generously allowed me to keep working and transition from my full-time analytics engineer position to a part-time remote one while traveling. Even though I\u2019m not traveling much these days, I\u2019m working for a US-based company while living in New Zealand. This has introduced some challenges, being in a different time zone from the team.<\/p>\n<p>Working in different time zones doesn\u2019t have to be a hindrance. It actually can be a rewarding experience. Having employees online around the clock is one of the major benefits of having a globally-distributed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/future-of-work\/the-new-elevated-workforce-of-remote-workers-experts-give-advice-for-wfh-teams-and-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">workforce<\/a>. As long as there is mutual respect for each other\u2019s time and energy, it\u2019s certainly possible to be communicative and productive as a team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6375bbc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6375bbc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Align expectations for working in different time zones in a statement of work<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8eb5db7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8eb5db7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This can come in the form of a simple bulleted list or a formal document signed by you and company leadership. Either way, having clear roles and responsibilities eliminates confusion about individual priorities. Preparing a roadmap for teamwide quarterly or annual goals can provide a framework for individual contributor focus areas. These could include:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a01839b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a01839b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Handling data load and reporting issues overnight&nbsp;<\/li><li>Focusing on maintaining a specific code repository<\/li><li>Spearheading projects with less time sensitivity and on an ad-hoc basis<\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d613268 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d613268\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you are transitioning from a full-time position to a part-time role abroad, it will help to lay out any necessary workflow adjustments. Some examples of these may include:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9358757 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9358757\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Maintaining a consistent schedule for online availability. (For example, making sure to work from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. NZDT, Tuesday to Friday, which translates to 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST.)<\/li><li>Attending regular team check-ins over Zoom.<\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a8aa17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a8aa17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prepare all the tools necessary to work effectively in different time zones<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54b87e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"54b87e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Having the right tools at your disposal is critical for computationally-expensive data engineering, data analysis, and machine learning projects. If possible, have the IT department help set you up with appropriate hardware and software that can handle heavy-duty tasks. Ensure that you have the same development environments as your teammates so you can replicate work without the obstacle of having incongruous systems. It\u2019s also important to consider whether to install security software, password managers, and secure document storage systems required by the company. For extra security for proprietary data, use a VPN while working.<\/p>\n<p>Because you could be thousands of miles away from your employer, you may not have immediate access to tech support. Therefore, you have some responsibility to know the basics of how to care for your computer and maintain software versions. You also would be responsible for having reliable access to the internet no matter where you are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3fbe07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d3fbe07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Schedule times for meetings and calls fairly across the team<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82a50c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82a50c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Depending on where everyone on the team is located, sometimes there\u2019s only a small window, as little as a few hours, where live communication with everyone is possible. If you plan to regularly move from country to country, the other members of the team should know when you will be changing time zones so they can adjust schedules accordingly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Take advantage of your calendar application to ensure that everyone knows the correct time to meet. For instance, Google Calendar has <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/calendar\/answer\/37064?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">time zone tools<\/a> that allow you to display a secondary time zone on events and a world clock to display the current times in different parts of the world. Online tools such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeanddate.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">timeanddate.com<\/a> can also help straighten out potentially complex time differences across hemispheres.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0e86ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b0e86ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/0Ih9HlR7VtPkioSUpcvzRtdetpPPDXWAyd9EJyzCZQDcfWpj-CFOQy6Y6qdC579V6zah6bttsV2QeTbJfPVA_t6gctqg9ImmqnzKYinHS6hcuxbfOypooyVbifvOsVflljEeyd4.png\" alt=\"5 Tips To Work Effectively With Your Data Team Across Different Time Zones\"\/><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f87416 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f87416\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No one can be available at all hours of the day across different time zones. So, <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/human-interest\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-working-from-home-remote-workforce-telework.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">employers should be empathetic around that<\/a>. Each person on the team deserves fair meeting times. So, don\u2019t hesitate to set boundaries, and only accept meetings during reasonable working hours. Even if you\u2019re 12 hours apart, no one should feel obligated to take a meeting at 11 p.m. or 6 a.m. Carefully evaluate what is immediately important and what can wait for the following day. Whether it\u2019s a few hours or one full day, you can set a standard for how much advance notice is reasonable for a notification about urgent matters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09a325a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"09a325a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Encourage focused work by using communication tools judiciously<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb9f62e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb9f62e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With such a variety of communication channels at our disposal, it\u2019s easy to reach our coworkers at any time. However, it\u2019s important to be respectful of other\u2019s time and use appropriate communication channels when necessary. This, of course, depends on personal preference. Different communication options can work for you. To reduce distractions, use messaging tools such as Slack during your teammates\u2019 online hours and email while offline. Set your <a href=\"https:\/\/slack.com\/intl\/en-nz\/help\/articles\/219889247-Manage-your-time-zone-preferences\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">time zone preferences<\/a> in Slack so teammates know whether it\u2019s a reasonable time of day to reach you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Your team may not necessarily need to collaborate in real time as often as you think. It\u2019s common to hear something like \u201cthis meeting could have been an email.\u201d Having fewer meetings helps keep us mindful of what is important to discuss and what should be left to uninterrupted individual work time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f18c256 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f18c256\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Check in with your team regularly<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d33c538 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d33c538\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Recurring communication is especially important for distributed teams to catch up on ongoing projects and stay on the same page. These also are great times to praise fellow teammates for their hard work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to providing internal team updates, these check-ins also can be a time to catch up on what is happening at the broader company level. This keeps the company\u2019s objectives front of mind and provides more context for how your own work fits in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Work discussion aside, strong teams foster a sense of inclusion and camaraderie across communication channels. Having your team living in a different hemisphere from you can be isolating. You don\u2019t have the opportunity to have \u201cwatercooler chats\u201d or attend impromptu, in-person happy hours. Have a laugh in a fun Slack channel or drop in on your team\u2019s evergreen Zoom meeting room for some casual banter. My team holds an informal Zoom call at the end of each week as a space for everyone to get to know one another better by sharing things such as life updates, favorite books, or vacation photos.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2020\/09\/06\/work-from-home-why-digital-nomads-think-theyre-future-of-remote-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Employees can become more satisfied with their jobs<\/a> knowing they have the ability to work from anywhere in the world. Hopefully, these tips help provide a framework for working with a distributed team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Remote work has become a necessity amid the pandemic and some companies are even keeping their workforces remote indefinitely. In some ways, this affords more flexibility for work location than ever.&nbsp; Before the peak of the pandemic, I decided to travel around the world for a year. My employer generously allowed me to keep working<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1142,"featured_media":22909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[977],"ppma_author":[3734],"class_list":["post-22907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bigdata-cloud","tag-data-management"],"authors":[{"term_id":3734,"user_id":1142,"is_guest":0,"slug":"laura-lai","display_name":"Laura Lai","avatar_url":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura-Lai-150x150.jpg","user_url":"","last_name":"Lai","first_name":"Laura","job_title":"","description":"Laura is an Analytics Engineer at Slate Magazine."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22907"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31379,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22907\/revisions\/31379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22907"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=22907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}