WLP339 Going Async-First to Promote Inclusivity

In this conversation, Pilar and Sumeet Gayathri Moghe delve into the intricacies of remote work, asynchronous communication, and the challenges of global collaboration. Sumeet also shares why he “worked out loud” as part of the process of writing the book “The Async-First Playbook”. 

Sumeet is based in Pune, India, a city located about four and a half hours from Mumbai. He highlights the cultural difference of measuring distance in terms of time rather than kilometres.

Professionally, Sumeet is a technologist and product manager at ThoughtWorks, a custom software company. His role involves conducting experiments to determine what software features to develop before they are built and ensuring their successful release to the market. He emphasises the importance of prototyping and testing ideas before investing heavily in development to avoid wasting resources on features that users might not want.

The discussion transitions to the topic of asynchronous ("async") communication. Sumeet shares his observations about the challenges faced by teams in India working for clients in the West, especially in places like San Francisco. The significant time difference often results in either the stakeholders or the development team experiencing burnout due to inconvenient meeting times. Moreover, the continuous barrage of meetings throughout the day hampers creativity and productivity, leaving little time for focused work.

Sumeet also touches upon the issue of inclusivity in remote work. He points out that while many people globally speak English, they do so with varying fluency and accents. This can lead to some individuals dominating conversations while others, less confident in their language skills, remain silent. This dynamic is detrimental to inclusivity, especially when considering neurodiverse individuals, introverts, and those new to their roles.

Additionally, the IT industry's poor inclusion of women, despite producing many female engineers, is a concern. The inflexibility of a meeting-heavy culture can be particularly challenging for women, who often bear a disproportionate share of household responsibilities.

Sumeet Gayathri Moghe

Sumeet's "Async-First Playbook" advocates for starting with asynchronous communication and then moving to synchronous (or "sync") communication only if necessary. This approach can save time, reduce repetitive tasks, and provide a reference for future discussions. He likens it to the promise of Java: "write once, run anywhere." By documenting decisions, ideas, and processes, teams can refer back to them, ensuring clarity and reducing the need for repetitive explanations.

Pilar appreciates this perspective, noting that while asynchronous communication might seem less "human," it frees up time for more meaningful, human-centric interactions.

In today's fast-paced corporate world, team retreats have become a staple. These gatherings, often filled with meetings and workshops, are touted as essential for team bonding. But is the current format of these retreats truly serving their purpose?

When we think about team retreats, the primary goal should be genuine bonding. If the objective is to connect on a deeper level, why not focus on activities that foster genuine connections? Instead of a packed agenda of meetings, consider activities like hiking, watching a movie, or even a simple group dinner. These moments allow for genuine interactions, free from the constraints of a formal work setting.

Transitioning to the broader topic of communication, the rise of remote work has brought the concept of asynchronous communication to the forefront. For those unfamiliar, asynchronous communication is where team members don't necessarily communicate in real-time. Instead, they rely on tools and platforms that allow for a delay in response, promoting deeper thought and reducing constant interruptions.

25.00 mins. Asynchronous Skills

For asynchronous work to be effective, there are four essential skills individuals should cultivate:

1. Concise and Empathetic Writing: It's not about crafting a novel but getting to the point quickly and with empathy.

2. Focused Reading: In an age of constant digital distractions, the ability to read for 10-15 minutes without interruptions is crucial.

3. Blocking Distractions: Whether it's social media notifications or background noise, cutting out distractions is key to deep work.

4. Independent Problem Solving: Instead of immediately seeking input at every roadblock, the ability to navigate challenges independently is invaluable.

However, the shift to asynchronous work isn't just an individual endeavor. It requires a collective effort from the entire team and, importantly, buy-in from management. While there might be a temporary dip in productivity during the transition, the long-term benefits, from increased autonomy to a calmer work environment, can be significant.

In the evolving landscape of remote work, understanding the dynamics of asynchronous communication and team relationships is crucial. While team retreats and bonding activities are essential, the real essence of building trust lies in working together on problems. Professionals build trust by collaborating on challenges, attesting to each other's competencies, and witnessing problem-solving approaches firsthand. This trust is often forged in the trenches of complex tasks, like pair programming, where two individuals work undistracted on a problem, regardless of the time it takes.

However, the modern work environment is riddled with meetings that may not always be necessary. For instance, do we truly need daily meetings to discuss what was done yesterday and what will be done today? Such information could easily be made transparent with online tools such as Trello. Instead, the real essence of some meetings is the social aspect, where team members catch up and enjoy each other's company. If that's the case, it's essential to recognize and name it. Whether it's social chitchat or building relationships through work, understanding the nature of these interactions is vital to design team interactions.

Leaders play a pivotal role in this. If fostering strong relationships among team members is a priority, leaders should be willing to invest in it. This could mean organising retreats or other bonding activities. If it's not deemed important enough to fund, it shouldn't be forced upon employees, especially outside of work hours. Many remote-first firms prioritise these retreats, understanding their value in building connections.

The adoption of asynchronous work also brings to light the fact that people can build strong relationships even when they're not communicating in real-time. It's about intentionality. If knowledge sharing is a goal, are there platforms and spaces where communities can interact? Is there room for employees to share ideas, blog about them, and engage with their peers? Running a distributed organisation requires proactive efforts rather than relying on happy accidents.

44.00mins. Working Out Loud

The act of sharing work and ideas publicly, even within an organisation, can be daunting for many. However, it's a muscle that can be developed. Feedback, while sometimes challenging to digest, is a testament to the fact that people care. Taking a step back, reflecting on feedback, and understanding its value can lead to better outcomes, both for individual projects and overall team dynamics.

Pilar admires how Sumeet has worked on this book in the open, and how he has gathered a group of people around the “Async-First Manifesto”. Bringing people together around a Google Doc to give feedback and converse around the topic is a much more efficient way of gathering thoughts from around the world than calling a meeting!

For those interested in diving deeper into the world of asynchronous work, the "Async First Manifesto" is a valuable resource that captures the essence of this paradigm shift. It's a testament to the power of open collaboration and the potential of asynchronous communication.

*Special Offer:* For a limited time, listeners can avail a discount on the "Async First Playbook" by navigating to informit.com/async and using the coupon code "NOTDISTANT".

At Virtual not Distant, we also consider asynchronous communication an essential practice of online collaboration.
And that’s why we’ve created an audio-first course for managers new to leading remote teams, and new managers.
Find out more about the course here or get in touch with Pilar through our contact form.

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