Set Clear Expectations: Define the team’s core hours when everyone should be available online, and communicate these clearly to all members. Use Asynchronous Communication: Encourage the use of communication tools that allow team members to leave messages, updates, and feedback that can be addressed at a convenient time. Utilize Technology: Leverage collaborative tools like project management software, shared documents, and instant messaging platforms to facilitate seamless communication. Be Sensitive to Time Zones: When scheduling meetings, use tools that help visualize the time zones of all team members to avoid inconvenient hours.

Ensure that everyone knows how and when to communicate, whether it’s through chat, video calls, or emails. For example, some teams have a rule that urgent matters go to Slack or Teams, while less time-sensitive info can be shared via email. Having regular video calls (weekly or bi-weekly) where everyone checks in can provide opportunities to ask questions, clarify issues, and create a sense of connection. This also lets everyone feel aligned, even if they are not working in real-time together. Use shared calendars to map out everyone’s working hours, major deadlines, and team events. This way, all team members can know when people are available or offline, making collaboration more fluid and reducing the risk of miscommunication.

Establishing team rules and expectations helps set the foundation to clear expectations. As part of those rules the team can consider setting "team hours" to meet informally to build trust.

Set clear expectations for response times and meeting schedules. Use overlapping working hours for real time collaboration. Rotate meeting times to accommodate different time zones fairly. Use async communication like emails and shared documents.