Time is Relative?
Let’s jump straight to it; working with colleagues abroad can indeed be challenging. Especially if your colleagues are in different time zones. Imagine having an urgent question—just your luck that your colleague is still fast asleep!
Scheduling meetings can also be tricky. Coordinating availability among several colleagues in multiple time zones can become quite the puzzle. Everyone communicates their availability according to their own time zone, leading to inevitable confusion the first time around.
Moreover, perceptions of punctuality differ significantly across cultures. While in the Netherlands we believe in being strictly on time, in many cultures it’s perfectly acceptable to be slightly late.
Subtle Differences, Major Impact
Speaking of culture—this can certainly be a challenge! Beyond practical matters such as holidays and how to address people, the real difficulties are often subtler than you might think.
Cultural differences are especially noticeable in communication. The Dutch are famously direct, while people from South America or Asia typically communicate in a less direct manner. In many cultures, workplace hierarchy is essential and can even influence how tasks are executed. In the Netherlands, we’re accustomed to autonomy and initiative.
The tolerance for making mistakes and openly admitting them also varies greatly by culture. This can create the perception that everything is going smoothly, while in reality, your employees on the other side of the world might fear losing face. Over time, this can have significant financial consequences.
Asynchronous Collaboration
When employees’ time zones barely overlap, collaboration naturally shifts. The time available for meetings dramatically decreases, which, let’s be honest, can be a positive change. Collaboration through meetings transforms into goal-oriented communication around specific challenges. Updates increasingly become asynchronous and text-based. It might take some getting used to, but you’ll soon discover how effective this approach can be!
More Advantages than Challenges
And it doesn’t stop there. Many of these challenges can be easily resolved through clear agreements, smart tools, and an awareness of differences. Our experience shows that making these agreements significantly improves everyone’s working experience.
And it’s definitely worth the effort! If you succeed, your company gains access to a vast talent pool. Time differences might even start to work to your advantage. Think about offering 24/7 service or accelerating product development.
We Reduce Your Risks
Nevertheless, hiring your first international employee can feel like a big step. What should you look out for? How do you ensure you select the right person?
Productized is here to help. We help companies to attract new IT talent or flexible IT capacity, assisting with selection and structuring collaboration. Additionally, our agreements can be terminated monthly. This reduces your risk, allowing you to reap the full benefits of affordable global talent.
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